At a glance
SDEM charges 0.66% a year, above the 0.52% average of the 5 funds most like it (the most expensive of 6). It has $45.2M in assets, the 5th largest of that group; it paid 5.19% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, monthly. Over the past year it returned +16.0% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 3rd of those 6 funds; over three years it returned +20.1% a year. At its worst it fell 37.2% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 34.4% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 13 months and 33 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 22.6% of the fund, out of 60 in all.
The short version
Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF (SDEM) tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Top 50 Dividend Index: 50 of the highest-yielding emerging-market stocks, held in roughly equal amounts. It pays monthly, with a trailing 12-month yield of 5.19% as of October 27, 2026. The trade-offs are cost and risk: its 0.66% expense ratio is higher than all five similar funds compared, and its deepest drop took nearly six years to recover.
Price history
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SDEM +16.0% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDEM official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +31.28% | — | +4.48% | +4.68% | — |
| SDEM price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +11.5% | +16.0% | +20.1% | +5.7% | +3.3% | +3.8% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, SDEM returned +16.0%, 3rd of 6 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +5.7% and its 10-year +3.3%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 37.2% and regained its old high 12.8 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-22.2%); its best was 2025 (+32.0%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 47.4% (Feb 26, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020), recovered by Jan 12, 2026.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +11.5% | — |
| 2025 | +32.0% | +31.28% |
| 2024 | +4.2% | +3.85% |
| 2023 | +12.7% | +13.32% |
| 2022 | -22.2% | -21.09% |
| 2021 | +2.3% | +2.10% |
| 2020 | -11.2% | -11.02% |
| 2019 | +17.5% | +16.78% |
| 2018 | -17.4% | -17.14% |
| 2017 | +16.7% | +16.43% |
| 2016 | +26.5% | +26.60% |
| 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 37.2% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 37.2%, back to its old high 12.8 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 29.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 34.4%, back to its old high 33 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.2600 | |
| 2025 | $1.5900 | -11.2% |
| 2024 | $1.7900 | -3.8% |
| 2023 | $1.8600 | -14.7% |
| 2022 | $2.1803 | -20.9% |
| 2021 | $2.7576 | +24.7% |
| 2020 | $2.2121 | -18.0% |
| 2019 | $2.6970 | +6.0% |
| 2018 | $2.5455 | 0.0% |
| 2017 | $2.5455 | +12.0% |
| 2016 | $2.2727 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 60 securities; the ten largest made up 22.57% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Grupo Cibest S.A. Preferred stock | 2.84% | |
| EVA AIRWAYS CORPORATION | 2.30% | |
| BB Seguridade Participacoes S.A. | 2.30% | |
| Innolux Corporation | 2.26% | |
| BOSIDENG INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED | 2.23% | |
| Caixa Seguridade Participacoes SA | 2.18% | |
| KLABIN S.A. | 2.14% | |
| SCB X PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED | 2.11% | |
| ORIENT OVERSEAS (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED | 2.10% | |
| POWSZECHNY ZAKLAD UBEZPIECZEN SPOLKA AKCYJNA | 2.10% | |
| MOL Magyar Olaj- es Gazipari Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag | 2.09% | |
| NEPI ROCKCASTLE N.V. | 2.05% | |
| Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai | 2.05% | |
| COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. | 2.05% | |
| Fideicomiso Irrevocable No. F/1401 | 2.02% |
By country
Brazil 21.85%Hong Kong 19.13%Taiwan 8.36%United Arab Emirates 5.49%Indonesia 5.3%By asset type
Stocks 94.68%Preferred stock 4.74%RA 3.54%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $1.8M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +4.87%, -1.41%, +0.73%.
How it works
SDEM is an index fund. It aims to match the MSCI Emerging Markets Top 50 Dividend Index, before fees, rather than beat it, and it does not move to cash when markets fall. MSCI is independent of the fund's adviser, Global X Management Company. It starts with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and uses fixed rules to pick 50 of the highest dividend payers. Each stock gets roughly equal weight, so a smaller company counts as much as a giant. The index is rebalanced once a year.
The fund usually buys every index stock in about the same proportions. It can hold a representative sample instead when some shares are hard or costly to buy. At least 80% of assets go into index stocks or depositary receipts, which are certificates traded on other exchanges that represent foreign shares. The fund may lend up to one-third of its assets to earn extra income. As of July 31, 2026, it held 60 issuers, and a small index futures position made up about 0.5% of assets.
Two quirks matter for holders. Annual reselection pushed portfolio turnover to 69.54%. Also, unlike most ETFs, the fund handles much of its share creation and redemption in cash. That can force it to sell holdings, which may make it less tax-efficient.
What it really costs
- SDEM charges 0.66% a year, versus an average of 0.52% for the similar funds below (6th of 6, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.65% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $67 in the first year and $822 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDEM | $67 | $211 | $368 | $822 |
In a retirement portfolio
The high monthly income comes with deep drops that were slow to recover, a small asset base and above-average costs, so the fund fits a limited slice of a portfolio rather than a core position.
SDEM could add monthly income and emerging-market exposure, with a trailing 12-month yield of 5.19% as of October 27, 2026. The ride has been rough, though. The fund launched in 2015, so it has no record from 2008. It fell 37.2% in the 2020 COVID crash and took about 13 months to recover. It dropped 34.4% in 2022 and needed 33 months to get back. Its deepest decline was 47.4%, from February 2018 to March 2020, and it did not fully recover until January 12, 2026. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -21.09%.
For someone drawing income, this matters. Selling shares in a slump locks in losses, and high-yield companies can cut their dividends when business gets hard. Costs are also high: about $67 in the first year and $822 over 10 years on $10,000, in the SEC's standard example. 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 seeking monthly income from emerging-market stocks, with a 5.19% trailing yield as of October 27, 2026.
- People who want 50 roughly equally weighted companies rather than a fund dominated by a handful of emerging-market giants.
- Those adding a small satellite position in high-yielding banks, insurers and shippers, mostly in Brazil, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: SDEM's 0.66% expense ratio is above similar funds such as DVYE at 0.49% and FNDE at 0.39%.
- Anyone who may need to sell in a downturn: the fund's 47.4% peak-to-trough drop took nearly six years to recover.
- Taxable investors focused on efficiency, since cash redemptions and 69.54% turnover may make it less tax-efficient than many ETFs.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDEM this fund | — | 0.66% | $45.2M | +16.0% | +20.1% |
| DVYE iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 26% | 0.49% | $1.22B | +16.3% | +22.4% |
| EDOG ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF | 13% | 0.6% | $30.1M | +7.1% | +12.6% |
| DEM WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend F… | 13% | 0.63% | $3.87B | +20.4% | +19.1% |
| FNDE Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity … | 11% | 0.39% | $10.31B | +15.0% | +22.8% |
| EDIV SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 7% | 0.49% | $1.22B | +8.7% | +16.9% |
Questions investors ask
Does SDEM pay monthly dividends?
Yes. SDEM pays distributions every month. In the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $1.67 per share, a trailing yield of 5.19%. The payments are not fixed. They depend on the dividends from the fund's holdings, which change with company profits and currency moves. A very high yield can also come from falling share prices, so the income can shrink in hard years.
What's the difference between SDEM and DVYE?
Both hold high-dividend emerging-market stocks, but only about 26% of their holdings overlap. iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF (DVYE) costs 0.49% a year, against 0.66% for SDEM. It is also much bigger: about $1.2 billion in net assets versus $45.2 million for SDEM, as of July 31, 2026. Their returns have been close. As of October 27, 2026, DVYE returned 16.3% over one year and 22.4% a year over three years, compared with 16.0% and 20.1% for SDEM.
Is SDEM good for retirement income?
It can provide income, but it carries more risk than most income funds. SDEM yielded 5.19% as of October 27, 2026, paid monthly. It also fell 37.2% in the 2020 COVID crash and 34.4% in 2022. Its deepest drop, 47.4%, took nearly six years to recover. At 0.66% a year, it costs more than similar funds. It may suit a small slice of an income portfolio rather than its core.
What stocks are in SDEM?
SDEM holds about 60 high-dividend emerging-market companies in roughly equal amounts. As of July 31, 2026, the largest positions were Grupo Cibest preferred shares (Colombia), EVA Airways and Innolux (Taiwan), BB Seguridade and Caixa Seguridade (Brazil), and Bosideng (Hong Kong). Each made up about 2% to 3% of assets. Brazil was 21.9% of the fund, Hong Kong 19.1% and Taiwan 8.4%. As of December 31, 2025, the index was concentrated in banking.
What are SDEM's long-term returns?
They have been modest and uneven. As of December 31, 2025, the prospectus showed average annual returns of 31.28% over one year, 4.48% over five years and 4.68% over ten years. Calendar years swung widely, from a 31.28% gain in 2025 to a 21.09% loss in 2022. The worst quarter was a 33.34% loss in early 2020. For 2026 year to date, the fund was up 11.5% as of October 27, 2026.