ETF Evaluator: iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF () Follow This ETF

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF Overview

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF (BREM) is an actively managed Taxable Bond Emerging Markets Bond exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2025.

The investment seeks to maximize total return from a combination of income and capital growth. The fund will invest primarily in a portfolio of bonds of sovereigns and public sector and private sector companies located in, or tied economically to, emerging market countries that are predominantly denominated in U.S. Dollars, Euros, Sterling and other hard currencies. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in the bonds of issuers domiciled or exercising the predominant part of their economic activity in, emerging market countries. The fund is non-diversified.

About iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF (BREM)

There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.79 years: Pablo Goldberg (2025), Silvio Zanardini (2025) and Michel Aubenas (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has 172 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 15.6% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF is part of the Fixed Income global asset class and is within the Taxable Bond ETF group. iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has 97.1% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.0% There is 0.0% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 97.1% (0.0% domestic bond, 97.1% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has 2.9% of the portfolio in cash.

Assets Under Management

The fund has $37 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Emerging Markets Bond category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.

BREM Performance and Fees

The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Emerging Markets Bond category. iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50%, which is 9% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.

High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 2%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.5 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 56% for the Emerging Markets Bond category.

Recently, in the month of July 2026, iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF returned -1.3%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Emerging Markets Bond category had an average return of -1.1%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 6.13% category average. The fund normally distributes its income monthly and its capital gains annually.

It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.

iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF Grades

Year to date, the ETF has returned 2.7%, 0.7 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B.

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