At a glance
DEM charges 0.63% a year, above the 0.37% average of the 6 funds most like it (the most expensive of 7). It has $3.87B in assets, the 4th largest of that group; it paid 4.15% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +20.4% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 2nd of those 7 funds; over three years it returned +19.1% a year. At its worst it fell 33.6% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 26.5% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 10 months and 17 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 26.2% of the fund, out of 531 in all.
The short version
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an index ETF that holds the highest-yielding dividend stocks in 18 emerging markets, from Taiwanese chipmakers to Chinese banks. Its trailing 12-month yield was 4.15% as of October 27, 2026, and it pays quarterly. It also costs more than similar funds. Its 0.63% expense ratio was the highest of seven funds compared, against a 0.37% average for six similar funds.
Price history
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DEM +20.4% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEM official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +20.54% | — | +8.97% | +9.39% | — |
| Wisdom Tree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +21.64% | — | +9.96% | +10.32% | — |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Value Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +32.74% | — | +6.76% | +7.96% | — |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) index, same period | — | +33.57% | — | +4.20% | +8.42% | — |
| DEM price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +18.3% | +20.4% | +19.1% | +10.2% | +9.0% | +4.9% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, DEM returned +20.4%, 2nd of 7 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +10.2% and its 10-year +9.0%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 33.6% and regained its old high 9.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2008 (-34.6%); its best was 2009 (+58.1%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 51.8% (May 19, 2008 to Mar 2, 2009), recovered by Apr 1, 2010.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +18.3% | — |
| 2025 | +21.3% | +20.54% |
| 2024 | +4.5% | +5.22% |
| 2023 | +20.9% | +20.93% |
| 2022 | -10.4% | -10.32% |
| 2021 | +11.5% | +11.69% |
| 2020 | -5.8% | -5.64% |
| 2019 | +19.9% | +19.37% |
| 2018 | -7.7% | -7.31% |
| 2017 | +26.2% | +24.87% |
| 2016 | +22.5% | +22.54% |
| 2015 | -21.5% | — |
| 2014 | -13.3% | — |
| 2013 | -7.0% | — |
| 2012 | +15.6% | — |
| 2011 | -10.4% | — |
| 2010 | +24.6% | — |
| 2009 | +58.1% | — |
| 2008 | -34.6% | — |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Lost 47.1% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 51.8%, back to its old high 13 months after the low |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 33.1% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 33.6%, back to its old high 9.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 18.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 26.5%, back to its old high 16.7 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.7400 | |
| 2025 | $2.2800 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $2.1300 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | $2.2400 | -27.0% |
| 2022 | $3.0700 | +20.4% |
| 2021 | $2.5500 | +47.4% |
| 2020 | $1.7300 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | $2.2000 | +22.2% |
| 2018 | $1.8000 | +8.4% |
| 2017 | $1.6600 | +22.1% |
| 2016 | $1.3600 | -17.6% |
| 2015 | $1.6500 | -28.9% |
| 2014 | $2.3200 | +11.0% |
| 2013 | $2.0900 | +11.2% |
| 2012 | $1.8800 | -17.2% |
| 2011 | $2.2700 | +17.0% |
| 2010 | $1.9400 | +32.9% |
| 2009 | $1.4600 | -23.2% |
| 2008 | $1.9000 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 531 securities; the ten largest made up 26.2% of assets. It also reported 4.03% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| MEDIATEK INC | 6.71% | |
| CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK CORP | 4.04% | |
| UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP | 3.14% | |
| INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LTD (THE) | 2.45% | |
| SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY | 1.89% | |
| GRUPO FINANCIERO BANORTE SAB DE CV | 1.78% | |
| ORLEN SA | 1.65% | |
| QUANTA COMPUTER INC | 1.59% | |
| FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO SAB DE CV | 1.48% | |
| POWSZECHNA KASA OSZCZEDNOSCI BANK POLSKI SA | 1.48% | |
| PING AN INSURANCE (GROUP) COMPANY OF CHINA LTD | 1.33% | |
| INDUSTRIAL BANK COMPANY LTD | 1.18% | |
| CTBC FINANCIAL HOLDING CO LTD | 1.16% | |
| INNOLUX CORP | 1.14% | |
| AMBEV SA | 1.02% |
By country
Taiwan 31.37%China 16.74%Brazil 6.35%Saudi Arabia 6.19%Mexico 6.03%By asset type
Stocks 98.88%Preferred stock 0.19%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $64.2M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +6.68%, +6.68%, -2.30%.
How it works
DEM tracks the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Index. The index was designed by WisdomTree, Inc., which is the parent of the fund's adviser, WisdomTree Asset Management. The index starts from a wider list of dividend payers in 18 emerging markets. To qualify, a company needs positive earnings, at least $5 million in cash dividends over the prior year, a market value of at least $200 million and enough trading volume. Those stocks are ranked by dividend yield (dividends divided by share price), and the top 30% are kept. A stock already in the index stays if it remains in the top 35%. Roughly 100 high-yielding mainland Chinese shares bought through Stock Connect, a Hong Kong–China trading link, are added as well.
Stocks are weighted by the total dollars of dividends they paid, not by company size. At the yearly rebalance, no stock can exceed 5%, no country or sector can exceed 25%, and real estate is capped at 15%. Weights can drift past these limits between rebalances. As of June 30, 2026, Taiwan made up about 31% of the fund.
The fund uses representative sampling, which means it holds a sample of index stocks rather than every one. It had 531 holdings as of June 30, 2026. The largest were MediaTek (6.7%), China Construction Bank (4.0%), United Microelectronics (3.1%), ICBC (2.5%) and Saudi Aramco (1.9%). Portfolio turnover was 47%.
What it really costs
- DEM charges 0.63% a year, versus an average of 0.37% for the similar funds below (7th of 7, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $64 in the first year and $786 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEM | $64 | $202 | $351 | $786 |
In a retirement portfolio
It adds emerging-market stocks and above-average dividend income, but it has fallen by half in past crises, so it fits best as a smaller holding around a core.
DEM could add emerging-market stocks and a sizable stream of dividends to a portfolio. Its trailing yield was 4.15% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly. The fund charges 0.63% a year. In the SEC's standard example, that comes to $64 on $10,000 in the first year and $786 over 10 years. The swings have been large. DEM fell 51.8% in the 2008 crisis and recovered 13 months after the bottom, in April 2010. It dropped 33.6% in the 2020 COVID crash and 26.5% in the 2022 bear market. The 2022 loss took 16.7 months to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2008, when it lost 34.6%. Someone who has to sell shares in a bad year could lock in deep losses, and companies can cut dividends under stress. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want emerging-market stocks with income: the trailing yield was 4.15% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly.
- Those who prefer weighting by dividends paid, which tilts toward Taiwanese tech companies and Chinese, Mexican and Polish banks rather than the biggest companies.
- Long-horizon holders who can ride out drops like the 51.8% fall in 2008–09 without needing to sell.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: the 0.63% expense ratio was the highest of seven similar funds, and SCHE charged 0.11%.
- People who need steady value in downturns: DEM lost 26.5% in 2022 and took 16.7 months to recover.
- Those wanting broad emerging-market exposure: about 31% sits in Taiwan, and the fund leaves out non-payers and lower-yielding companies.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEM this fund | — | 0.63% | $3.87B | +20.4% | +19.1% |
| FNDE Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity … | 25% | 0.39% | $10.31B | +15.0% | +22.8% |
| DGS WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Divide… | 25% | 0.58% | $1.78B | +8.7% | +15.0% |
| DVYE iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 17% | 0.49% | $1.22B | +16.3% | +22.4% |
| DGRE WisdomTree Emerging Markets Quality Dividen… | 15% | 0.32% | $148.1M | +27.9% | +23.7% |
| SCHE Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 14% | 0.11% | $13.00B | +4.4% | +16.7% |
| AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 14% | 0.33% | $28.05B | +14.1% | +21.5% |
Questions investors ask
Does DEM pay monthly dividends?
No. DEM pays dividends quarterly, not monthly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $2.22 per share, a trailing yield of 4.15%. Payments vary from quarter to quarter. They depend on what the underlying companies pay and on exchange rates, because most dividends are paid in foreign currencies. The prospectus also warns that changes in the companies' dividend policies can hurt the fund.
What is DEM's expense ratio?
DEM's expense ratio is 0.63%, according to its prospectus filed July 29, 2026. All of it is the management fee, and there is no fee waiver. In the SEC's standard example ($10,000 invested, 5% yearly return), costs would total $64 after one year, $202 after three, $351 after five and $786 after ten. That was the highest of seven similar funds compared, where the other six averaged 0.37%.
DEM vs FNDE: what's the difference?
FNDE costs less and is larger. Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity ETF charges 0.39%, compared with DEM's 0.63%. Its net assets were about $10.3 billion, against DEM's $3.87 billion. The two share only about 25% of their holdings. DEM's index keeps only the highest-yielding 30% of dividend payers and weights them by dividends paid. As of October 27, 2026, DEM returned 20.4% over one year, versus 15.0% for FNDE. Over three years, DEM averaged 19.1% a year, against 22.8% for FNDE.
How has DEM performed over the last 10 years?
DEM returned 9.39% a year on average over the 10 years ending December 31, 2025, according to its prospectus. Its 5-year average was 8.97%, and its 2025 return was 20.54%. Over 10 years, it beat the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (8.42%) and the MSCI Emerging Markets Value Index (7.96%). It trailed its own WisdomTree index (10.32%), which has no fees deducted. In 2025, both MSCI indexes did much better, returning over 32%.
Is DEM a risky investment?
Yes, it can swing sharply. DEM fell 51.8% from May 2008 to March 2009 and lost 28.89% in the first quarter of 2020 alone. As of June 30, 2026, about 31% of the fund was in Taiwan and 17% in China. It also leans heavily toward financial and technology stocks. The prospectus lists further risks: currency swings, political upheaval, sanctions and capital controls, any of which can hit emerging-market stocks without warning.