Fund Evaluator:
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C (ABCEX)Best Performing in Diversified Emerging Mkts Over the Last Year
| 55.1% | Invesco Emerging Markets ex-China Y (GTDYX) |
| 51.1% | WCM Focused Emerging Mkts Ex Chn Inv (WCFEX) |
| 47.2% | Matthews Emerging Markets Sust Fut Inv (MASGX) |
| 46.5% | Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Instl (LZEMX) |
| 46.5% | LSV Emerging Markets Equity Inv (LVAZX) |
Fund Details
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C Overview
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C (ABCEX) is an actively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. AllianceBernstein launched the fund in 2011.
The investment seeks to maximize total return. The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets under normal circumstances in securities of emerging market issuers and/or the currencies of emerging market countries. It will invest between 30% and 95% of its net assets in equity securities, and between 0% and 65% of its net assets in debt securities, with any remainder held in cash (including foreign currency). The fund is not constrained based on the country, region, market capitalization, credit quality or duration of its investments and its assets may at times be concentrated in a particular country or region.
About AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C (ABCEX)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 3.50 years: Sammy Suzuki (2023), Christian DiClementi (2021), Eric Liu (2024), Richard Cao (2022). Management tenure is more important for actively managed funds than passive index funds.
The fund has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI EM NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has 335 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 38.0% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has 87.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.3%. There is 64.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 27.8% (4.7% domestic bond, 23.2% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has 6.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $75 million in total assets, which is below the $967 million 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.
ABCEX 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 AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has an expense ratio of 2.00%, which is 73% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a F. 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. AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has a portfolio turnover rate of 135%, indicating that holds its assets around 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 68% for the Diversified Emerging Mkts category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C returned -4.4%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of -4.9%. 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 funds in that category.
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C has a trailing yield of 1.79%, which is above the 1.72% category average. The fund normally distributes its income quarterly.
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.
AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset C Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 16.3%, 2.8 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 28.8% over the past year (grade of D), 18.7% over the past three years (grade of C) and 6.5% per year over the past five years (grade of C) and 6.3% per year over the past 10 years (grade of F).
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ABCEX 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 |
|
| ABCEX Return (NAV) | -4.4% | 1.0% | 28.8% | 18.7% | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| ABCEX Grade | C | D | D | C | C | F |
| +/- Category | 0.5% | -1.5% | -7.1% | 0.8% | 0.0% | -2.4% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | -4.9% | 2.4% | 35.9% | 17.9% | 6.5% | 8.7% |
| ABCEX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.8% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.3% |
ABCEX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ABCEX Return (NAV) | 16.3% | 23.5% | 13.1% | 15.6% | -23.3% | -2.0% | 12.7% | 17.1% | -14.7% | 19.4% | 11.0% |
| ABCEX Grade | D | F | A | B | C | C | D | F | B | F | B |
| +/- Category | -2.8% | -7.9% | 6.9% | 3.5% | -0.7% | -1.8% | -8.9% | -4.7% | 1.7% | -17.3% | 2.4% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 19.1% | 31.4% | 6.2% | 12.1% | -22.6% | -0.2% | 21.6% | 21.9% | -16.4% | 36.6% | 8.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 12.9% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.06 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.77 - Low |
| Category Risk Grade: | A (6% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.83 |
| R-Squared: | 79% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Blend |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.8% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Quarterly |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | |
| Total Assets: | $172 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 0 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | C |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 135% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 4.8 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 3.5 years | |||
| Managers (Year): DiClementi Christian (2021), Cao Richard (2022), Suzuki Sammy (2023), Liu Eric (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 335 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 38.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 87.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.3% |
| Foreign Stock: | 64.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 4.7% |
| Foreign Bond: | 23.2% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 6.5% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | AllianceBernstein |
| Phone Number: | 800-227-4618 |
| Website: | www.abglobal.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | August 31, 2011 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $2,500 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $2,500 |
| True No-Load: | No |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 1.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 1.00% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 2.00% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.16% |
| Share Class: | AB Emerging Markets Multi-Asset I |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 50 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 50 |