At a glance
ECON charges 0.47% a year, above the 0.32% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 8th cheapest of 9). It has $348.7M in assets, the 9th largest of that group; it paid 1.45% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +20.0% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 2nd of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +21.0% a year. At its worst it fell 25.7% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 24.7% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 4 months and 32 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 32.7% of the fund, out of 351 in all.
The short version
Columbia Research Enhanced Emerging Economies ETF (ECON) tracks a rules-based index that picks large and mid-size emerging-market stocks by quality, value and momentum, rather than by company size alone. As of June 30, 2026, it leaned heavily on South Korean and Taiwanese chipmakers, led by SK hynix at about 9.7%. Its 0.47% expense ratio is above the 0.32% average for similar funds. Its 10-year return through December 31, 2025, trailed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
Price history
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ECON +20.0% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +33.48% | — | +0.84% | +3.73% | — |
| MSCI Emerging Markets Index Net index, same period | — | +33.57% | — | +4.20% | +8.42% | — |
| ECON price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +21.2% | +20.0% | +21.0% | +6.6% | +4.3% | +4.1% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ECON returned +20.0%, 2nd of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +6.6% and its 10-year +4.3%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 25.7% and regained its old high 3.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2018 (-26.9%); its best was 2025 (+34.1%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 45.4% (Feb 16, 2021 to Oct 24, 2022), recovered by Jan 27, 2026.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +21.2% | — |
| 2025 | +34.1% | +33.48% |
| 2024 | +0.3% | +0.83% |
| 2023 | +7.5% | +7.34% |
| 2022 | -16.0% | -15.65% |
| 2021 | -14.1% | -14.44% |
| 2020 | +20.8% | +21.26% |
| 2019 | +17.2% | +16.93% |
| 2018 | -26.9% | -26.73% |
| 2017 | +27.5% | +26.86% |
| 2016 | +5.0% | +4.95% |
| 2015 | -15.2% | — |
| 2014 | -4.6% | — |
| 2013 | +1.7% | — |
| 2012 | +21.7% | — |
| 2011 | -5.2% | — |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 24.8% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 25.7%, back to its old high 3.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 22.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 24.7%, back to its old high 32 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.4800 | +200.0% |
| 2024 | $0.1600 | -51.5% |
| 2023 | $0.3300 | -19.5% |
| 2022 | $0.4100 | +57.7% |
| 2021 | $0.2600 | +44.4% |
| 2020 | $0.1800 | -53.8% |
| 2019 | $0.3900 | +95.0% |
| 2018 | $0.2000 | +100.0% |
| 2017 | $0.1000 | -37.5% |
| 2016 | $0.1600 | -30.4% |
| 2015 | $0.2300 | -23.3% |
| 2014 | $0.3000 | +50.0% |
| 2013 | $0.2000 | +81.8% |
| 2012 | $0.1100 | -8.3% |
| 2011 | $0.1200 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 351 securities; the ten largest made up 32.66% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| SK hynix Inc | 9.68% | |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 6.05% | |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 4.72% | |
| MediaTek Inc | 3.13% | |
| Delta Electronics Inc | 1.91% | |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 1.60% | |
| China Construction Bank Corp | 1.49% | |
| SK Square Co Ltd | 1.48% | |
| ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd | 1.33% | |
| Foxconn Industrial Internet Co Ltd | 1.28% | |
| Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | 1.17% | |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd | 1.06% | |
| United Microelectronics Corp | 1.03% | |
| PDD Holdings Inc | 1.02% | |
| Elite Material Co Ltd | 0.84% |
By country
South Korea 25.19%Taiwan 24.92%China 13.33%India 9.9%Cayman Islands 6.04%By asset type
Stocks 97.24%Preferred stock 1.8%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors withdrew a net $16.9M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +15.27%, +13.00%, -1.11%.
How it works
ECON aims to match, before fees, the Beta Advantage Research Enhanced Solactive Emerging Economies Index. The fund's adviser, Columbia Management, designed the index; Solactive AG owns and calculates it. The index starts from the Solactive GBS Emerging Markets Large & Mid Cap USD Index, a broad list of large and mid-sized emerging-market companies. Rules then pick a subset by scoring companies on quality, value and “catalyst” signals such as price and business momentum. The aim, with no guarantee, is a stronger total return than that starting list.
The index usually has about 325 to 400 holdings and is rebuilt each May and November. The fund uses “representative sampling,” buying some, not all, index stocks, so it may track the index less precisely. It reported 351 holdings as of June 30, 2026. At least 80% of net assets goes into emerging-market stocks, held directly or through depositary receipts (certificates representing foreign shares).
The fund is passive. Columbia does not pick stocks on its own views or turn defensive in downturns. Like the index, it was concentrated in financials and information technology as of March 31, 2026. Some Chinese exposure may come through a variable interest entity (VIE), a contract-based setup that stops short of direct ownership.
What it really costs
- ECON charges 0.47% a year, versus an average of 0.32% for the similar funds below (8th of 9, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.49% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- The fee includes a 0.02% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $48 in the first year and $614 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON | $48 | $155 | $272 | $614 |
In a retirement portfolio
Its heavy weighting in Korean and Taiwanese chip stocks, its 1-year beta of 1.56 (a measure of how sharply it moves compared with the market) and its 45.4% peak-to-trough fall make it a better fit for a small, higher-risk slice than for a core position.
ECON could add emerging-market stocks that a US-focused portfolio lacks, but its swings have been large. It launched in 2010, so it has no record from 2008. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 25.7% and recovered in about 3.6 months. In the 2022 bear market it fell 24.7%, and getting back to its old high took about 32 months, until June 2025. Its deepest drop was 45.4%, from February 2021 to October 2022, and recovery took about 39 months. Its worst calendar year was 2018, at -26.73%. Anyone who had to cash out shares during those stretches would have locked in losses.
Income is modest. The yield over the trailing 12 months was 1.45% as of October 27, 2026, and the fund pays once a year. The SEC's standard example puts costs at about $48 in the first year on a $10,000 investment. Past results don't predict the future, and a retirement plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting emerging-market stocks filtered by quality, value and momentum rules, instead of owning every large and mid-sized company.
- Investors comfortable with a heavy tilt to Asian chipmakers; the largest holding, SK hynix, was 9.7% of assets as of June 30, 2026.
- Long-horizon investors able to ride out deep drops; the fund fell 45.4% from February 2021 to October 2022 and recovered in January 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: the 0.47% annual expense ratio tops the 0.32% peer average, and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) charges 0.09%.
- Investors counting on its stock-selection rules: 10-year returns averaged 3.73% a year, versus 8.42% for MSCI Emerging Markets, through December 31, 2025.
- Retirees who need regular income: dividends arrive once a year, and the trailing 12-month yield was 1.45% as of October 27, 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON this fund | — | 0.47% | $348.7M | +20.0% | +21.0% |
| EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 52% | 0.72% | $31.21B | +12.7% | +20.3% |
| EMXC iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF | 52% | 0.25% | $24.92B | +27.3% | +24.6% |
| IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 47% | 0.09% | $160.90B | +11.7% | +19.8% |
| ESGE iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF | 44% | 0.26% | $6.91B | +15.2% | +23.2% |
| SCHE Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 41% | 0.11% | $13.00B | +4.4% | +16.7% |
| FNDE Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity … | 39% | 0.39% | $10.31B | +15.0% | +22.8% |
| DFEM Dimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 … | 38% | 0.39% | $8.96B | +14.6% | +21.4% |
Questions investors ask
Has ECON beaten the MSCI Emerging Markets Index?
Not over longer periods. Through December 31, 2025, ECON returned an average of 3.73% a year over 10 years, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returned 8.42%. Over five years the figures were 0.84% for ECON and 4.2% for the index. Over one year they were nearly even: 33.48% for ECON and 33.57% for the index. The prospectus warns that the fund's factor-based index may lag its starting universe and more traditional indexes.
What's the difference between ECON and EEM?
ECON uses a smaller, factor-screened index, while EEM is a much larger fund. Their holdings overlap by about 52%. EEM's expense ratio is 0.72%, compared with 0.47% for ECON. EEM had about $31.2 billion in net assets as of August 31, 2026, while ECON had about $348.7 million as of June 30, 2026. ECON's 1-year price return was 20% through October 27, 2026. EEM's was 12.3% through October 30, 2026.
Does ECON pay dividends?
Yes, but only once a year, and the amount is modest. Over the 12 months ending October 27, 2026, ECON paid $0.48 per share, a yield of about 1.45%. The fund holds stocks of large and mid-size emerging-market companies, and the dividends it passes on come from those companies. Investors who want regular monthly or quarterly income may find this payout schedule less convenient.
What is ECON's expense ratio?
ECON's expense ratio is 0.47%, according to the prospectus filed July 24, 2026. That is a 0.49% management fee minus a 0.02% fee waiver. Under the SEC's standard example ($10,000 invested, a 5% annual return, shares sold at the end of each period), costs come to about $48 after one year, $272 after five years and $614 after 10 years. The average for similar funds is 0.32%, and ECON ranks 8th of 9 on cost.
What are ECON's top holdings?
As of June 30, 2026, the largest holdings were SK hynix (about 9.7%), Samsung Electronics (6.0%), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (4.7%) and MediaTek (3.1%). Together, the top 10 made up 32.66% of the fund. By country, South Korea was 25.19% and Taiwan 24.92%, followed by China at 13.33% and India at 9.9%. That leaves the fund heavily tied to Asian chip and electronics companies.