Fund Evaluator:
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C (ESCGX)
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Best Performing in Diversified Emerging Mkts Over the Last Year
| 65.7% | Invesco Emerging Markets ex-China Y (GTDYX) |
| 64.1% | WCM Focused Emerging Mkts Ex Chn Inv (WCFEX) |
| 52.6% | Matthews Emerging Markets Sust Fut Inv (MASGX) |
| 48.9% | LSV Emerging Markets Equity Inv (LVAZX) |
| 47.7% | Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Instl (LZEMX) |
Fund Details
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C Overview
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C (ESCGX) is an actively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. Ashmore launched the fund in 2020.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing principally in equity securities and equity-related investments of Emerging Market Issuers, which may be denominated in any currency, including the local currency of the issuer, focusing on issuers that the Investment Manager believes satisfy the ESG Criteria.
About Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C (ESCGX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 6.02 years: Dhiren Shah (2020), Patrick Cadell (2021). 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%. Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has 68 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 53.5% of the fund’s assets. The fund meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The fund is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has 95.8% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.6%. There is 95.8% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% 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). Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has 3.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $1 million in total assets, which is below the $992 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.
ESCGX 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 Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has an expense ratio of 1.77%, which is 53% 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. Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has a portfolio turnover rate of 55%, 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 August 2026, Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C returned 2.9%, which earned it a grade of D, as the Diversified Emerging Mkts category had an average return of 3.9%. 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.
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C has a trailing yield of 1.14%, which is below the 1.65% category average. The fund normally distributes its income 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.
Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq C Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 26.0%, 2.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 41.9% over the past year (grade of B), 23.0% over the past three years (grade of C) and 5.6% per year over the past five years (grade of D).
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ESCGX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 8/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| ESCGX Return (NAV) | 2.9% | -0.1% | 41.9% | 23.0% | 5.6% | na |
| ESCGX Grade | D | B | B | C | D | na |
| +/- Category | -0.9% | 1.1% | 4.4% | 1.3% | -1.2% | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 3.9% | -1.2% | 37.5% | 21.7% | 6.8% | 8.9% |
| ESCGX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.2% | na |
ESCGX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 8/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ESCGX Return (NAV) | 26.0% | 33.0% | 6.9% | 10.5% | -28.4% | -1.7% | na | na | na | na | na |
| ESCGX Grade | B | C | C | C | F | C | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.7% | -1.7% | -5.8% | -1.4% | na | na | na | na | na |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 23.7% | 31.4% | 6.2% | 12.1% | -22.6% | -0.2% | 21.6% | 21.9% | -16.4% | 36.7% | 8.6% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Standard Deviation: | 17.6% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.44 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.08 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (81% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.14 |
| R-Squared: | 75% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 1.1% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | |
| Total Assets: | $1 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 0 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | C |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 55% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 6.5 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 6.0 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Shah Dhiren (2020), Cadell Patrick (2021) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 68 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 53.5% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 95.8% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 95.8% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 3.5% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | Ashmore |
| Phone Number: | 866-876-8294 |
| Website: | www.ashmoregroup.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | February 26, 2020 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| 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 (%): | 1.77% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.15% |
| Share Class: | Ashmore Emerging Markets Focus Eq Ins |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 50 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
