ETF Evaluator:
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF ()
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(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Diversified Emerging Mkts Over the Last Year
| 114.0% | Nomura Focused Emerging Mrkts Eq ETF (EMEQ) |
| 81.0% | FT EM Human Flourishing ETF (FTHF) |
| 68.7% | First Trust Bloomberg Emr Mkt Dem ETF (EMDM) |
| 67.8% | Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF (FRDM) |
| 59.4% | Pacific NoS Global EM Equity Active ETF (GEME) |
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ETF Details
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Overview
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is a passively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts exchange-traded fund (ETF). Columbia Threadneedle launched the ETF in 2015.
The investment seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Beta Thematic Emerging Markets ex-China Index.
The fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in the companies included in the index and the advisor generally expects to be substantially invested at such times, with at least 95% of its net assets invested in these securities. The index (and therefore the fund) was concentrated in the financials and information technology sectors. It is non-diversified.
About Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 7.38 years: Christopher Lo (2016) and Henry Hom (2021). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI EM NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Beta Thematic EM Ex-China TR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has 465 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 33.4% 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.
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has 97.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.7% There is 97.2% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.1% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has 1.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 billion in total assets, which is below the $3 billion average for the Diversified Emerging Mkts 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.
XCEM 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 Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF expense ratio is low compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has an expense ratio of 0.16%, which is 69% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 32%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 44% for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF returned -6.8%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of -3.0%. 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.
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has a trailing yield of 2.58%, which is above the 2.41% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually 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.
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 26.1%, 9.0 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of A. The fund has returned 45.7% over the past year (grade of A), 20.8% over the past three years (grade of A) and 10.8% per year over the past five years (grade of A) and 10.9% per year over the past 10 years (grade of A).
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XCEM Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| XCEM Return (NAV) | -6.8% | 5.1% | 45.7% | 20.8% | 10.8% | 10.9% |
| XCEM Return (Price) | -10.4% | 0.4% | 43.7% | 19.8% | 10.3% | 10.6% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 3.561% | 4.617% | 1.977% | 1.037% | 0.531% | 0.270% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | -3.0% | 3.0% | 31.9% | 16.6% | 7.1% | 7.8% |
| XCEM Grade (NAV) | F | B | A | A | A | A |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -3.8% | 2.1% | 13.8% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| XCEM Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% |
XCEM Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| XCEM Return (NAV) | 26.1% | 33.0% | 1.2% | 20.3% | -18.0% | 7.9% | 10.0% | 19.7% | -10.1% | 31.7% | 19.5% |
| XCEM Return (Price) | 23.5% | 34.0% | 0.5% | 20.0% | -17.6% | 7.9% | 9.5% | 19.7% | -11.3% | 33.3% | 14.4% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.099% | 0.030% | -0.586% | -0.017% | -0.022% | -0.005% | -0.049% | 0.2% | 11.7% | 5.3% | -26.2% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 17.1% | 29.2% | 6.7% | 12.8% | -18.8% | 2.3% | 12.7% | 18.2% | -14.6% | 33.7% | 10.9% |
| XCEM Grade (NAV) | A | B | F | A | C | B | D | B | A | C | A |
| +/- Category | 9.0% | 3.7% | -5.5% | 7.5% | 0.8% | 5.6% | -2.7% | 1.5% | 4.6% | -2.0% | 8.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 1.29 |
| R-Squared: | 74% |
| Standard Deviation: | 20.8% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.28 |
| Category Risk Rating: | High |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.70 |
| Total Risk Rating: | High |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 2.6% |
| Total Assets: | $ 1,949 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 1,949 Mil |
| Turnover: | 32.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.16% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI EM NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 9.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 7.4 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Lo Christopher (2016), Hom Henry (2021) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 465 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 33.4% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.7% |
| Foreign Stock: | 97.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.1% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 1.0% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Columbia Threadneedle |
| Phone Number: | 800-426-3750 |
| Website: | www.egshares.com |
| Inception Date: | September 1, 2015 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.16% (Rating: Low) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.52% |
