5 Best Emerging-Markets Funds for the Long Haul
Emerging-markets funds are on fire. Over the past 12 months through April 18, the MSCI Emerging Markets index has returned 27.1%. That's 7.6 percentage points more than the MSCI EAFE index of developed countries outside the U.S. and 9.6 percentage points better than Standard & Poor's 500-stock index.
The rally looks likely to continue. Corporate earnings are growing at a rapid clip in many emerging markets, and the stocks are cheap. EM shares are trading at 11.9 times analysts' estimates for the coming 12 months. That compares to a forward price-earnings ratio of 16.6 for the S&P 500 and 13.8 for the rest of the developed world. The World Bank projects emerging economies will grow 4.5% this year compared to 2.2% for developed economies.
do have their issues. For instance, EMs have higher rates of corruption than developed economies and many have not embraced capitalism. Russia is the poster child for these afflictions. Many emerging markets are dominated by commodity-producing companies,
