Fund Evaluator:
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst (SEKIX)
Follow This Fund
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
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst Overview
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst (SEKIX) is an actively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. DWS launched the fund in 2008.
The investment seeks long-term growth of capital. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in emerging market equities (equities traded mainly in emerging markets or issued by companies that are organized in emerging markets or have more than half of their business there). It may invest up to 20% of net assets in equities from the U.S. or other developed markets. The fund may also invest up to 20% of net assets in U.S. or emerging market debt securities when portfolio management believes these securities may perform at least as well as equities.
About DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst (SEKIX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 2.71 years: Sebastian Kahlfeld (2023), Sylwia Szczepek (2024). 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%. DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has 67 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 48.9% 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.
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has 98.2% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.7%. There is 98.2% 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). DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has 0.2% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $23 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.
SEKIX 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 DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has an expense ratio of 0.90%, which is 22% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. 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. DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has a portfolio turnover rate of 94%, 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, DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst returned 4.2%, which earned it a grade of B, 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.
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst has a trailing yield of 2.27%, which is above the 1.65% 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.
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 26.9%, 3.2 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 43.5% over the past year (grade of B), 23.0% over the past three years (grade of C) and 6.0% per year over the past five years (grade of D) and 8.0% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
For more mutual fund grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about DWS Emerging Markets Equity Inst, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
SEKIX 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 |
|
| SEKIX Return (NAV) | 4.2% | -1.9% | 43.5% | 23.0% | 6.0% | 8.0% |
| SEKIX Grade | B | D | B | C | D | D |
| +/- Category | 0.4% | -0.7% | 5.9% | 1.3% | -0.8% | -0.9% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 3.9% | -1.2% | 37.5% | 21.7% | 6.8% | 8.9% |
| SEKIX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
SEKIX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 8/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| SEKIX Return (NAV) | 26.9% | 28.9% | 7.6% | 6.3% | -21.6% | -11.6% | 18.8% | 19.4% | -12.2% | 37.8% | 10.0% |
| SEKIX Grade | B | D | B | F | B | F | C | D | A | C | B |
| +/- Category | 3.2% | -2.5% | 1.4% | -5.8% | 1.1% | -11.3% | -2.8% | -2.5% | 4.2% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| 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: | 17.8% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.46 - High |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.09 - High |
| Category Risk Grade: | F (86% Rank) |
| Beta: | 1.14 |
| R-Squared: | 73% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 2.3% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $76 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 24 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inst |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 94% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 2.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 2.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Kahlfeld Sebastian (2023), Szczepek Sylwia (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 67 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 48.9% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.2% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.7% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.2% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.2% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | DWS |
| Phone Number: | 800-728-3337 |
| Website: | www.dws-investments.com |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | March 3, 2008 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | na |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.90% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.15% |
| Share Class: | DWS Emerging Markets Equity S |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 0 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 0 |
