Fund Evaluator:
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor (WFEMX)
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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
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor Overview
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor (WFEMX) is an actively managed International Equity Diversified Emerging Mkts fund. WCM Investment Management launched the fund in 2013.
The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies in emerging or frontier countries or markets. It may invest in securities of any size companies. The fund generally invests in the securities of companies domiciled in at least three different countries.
About WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor (WFEMX)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 10.68 years: Gregory Ise (2018), Michael Trigg (2013), Sanjay Ayer (2013), Michael Tian (2018). 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%. WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has 56 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 48.6% 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.
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity fund group. WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has 97.6% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.8%. There is 97.6% 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). WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has 2.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $137 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.
WFEMX 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 WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor expense ratio is high compared to funds in the Diversified Emerging Mkts category. WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has an expense ratio of 1.50%, which is 30% 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. WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has a portfolio turnover rate of 57%, 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, WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor returned 6.4%, which earned it a grade of A, 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.
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below 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.
WCM Focused Emerging Markets Investor Grades
Year to date, the fund has returned 26.4%, 2.6 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 32.6% over the past year (grade of D), 24.5% over the past three years (grade of B) and 3.9% per year over the past five years (grade of F) and 10.1% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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WFEMX 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 |
|
| WFEMX Return (NAV) | 6.4% | 2.1% | 32.6% | 24.5% | 3.9% | 10.1% |
| WFEMX Grade | A | A | D | B | F | B |
| +/- Category | 2.5% | 3.3% | -4.9% | 2.8% | -2.9% | 1.2% |
| Diversified Emerging Mkts Avg | 3.9% | -1.2% | 37.5% | 21.7% | 6.8% | 8.9% |
| WFEMX Tax Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
WFEMX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 8/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| WFEMX Return (NAV) | 26.4% | 31.1% | 9.8% | 4.3% | -30.9% | -2.0% | 36.1% | 37.4% | -12.7% | 40.9% | -0.8% |
| WFEMX Grade | B | C | B | F | F | C | A | A | A | B | F |
| +/- Category | 2.6% | -0.3% | 3.6% | -7.9% | -8.2% | -1.8% | 14.5% | 15.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | -9.4% |
| 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: | 16.0% |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.31 - Above Average |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.98 - Average |
| Category Risk Grade: | C (50% Rank) |
| Beta: | 0.94 |
| R-Squared: | 63% |
| Leveraged Fund: | No |
| Inverse Fund: | No |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Equity Investment Style: | Large-Cap Growth |
| Bond Investment Style: | na |
| Yield: | 0.0% |
| Dividend Distribution: | Annually |
| Cap Gains Distribution: | Annually |
| Total Assets: | $1069 Mil |
| Fund Total Assets: | $ 138 Mil |
| Share Class Type: | Inv |
| Portfolio Turnover: | 57% |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 13.2 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 10.7 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Trigg Michael (2013), Ayer Sanjay (2013), Tian Michael (2018), Ise Gregory (2018) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 56 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 48.6% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.6% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.8% |
| Foreign Stock: | 97.6% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | -0.3% |
| Cash: | 2.0% |
Purchase Information
| Fund Family: | WCM Investment Management |
| Phone Number: | 888-988-9801 |
| Website: | http://www.lsthetafund.com/ |
| Status: | Open |
| Inception Date: | June 28, 2013 |
| Min. Initial Purchase: | $1,000 |
| Min. Initial IRA Purchase: | $1,000 |
| True No-Load: | Yes |
| Front Load Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Deferred Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| Redemption Charge Maximum: | 0.00% |
| 12b-1 Fee: | 0.25% |
Expenses and Fees | |
| Expense Ratio (%): | 1.50% ( Rating : High ) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 1.15% |
| Share Class: | WCM Focused Emerging Markets Instl |
| Min. Subsequent Purchase: | $ 100 |
| Min. Subsequent IRA Purchase: | $ 100 |
