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ETF Comparison

DEM vs DGS: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund and WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

DEM has outpaced DGS over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.90% total return against 12.91%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: DEM has compounded at 9.70% a year, against 8.61% for DGS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Oct 2007Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DEM21.24%23.90%18.32%11.10%9.70%4.74%14.7%0.841.22-15.6%
DGS12.73%12.91%14.07%7.40%8.61%4.90%15.4%0.570.80-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Oct 2007” measures every fund from October 30, 2007 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDEMDGS
Full nameWisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend FundWisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund
IssuerWisdomTreeWisdomTree
Last Close$56.29 as of September 18, 2026$63.97 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate5.15%5.25%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7575
Safety-Adjusted Yield 3.86%3.94%
Expense ratio0.63%0.58%
AUM$4.20B$1.72B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying index—WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index
Objective—Seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of primarily small-capitalization stocks selected from the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date07/13/200710/30/2007
Beta0.690.94
Last dividend$0.725$0.84
Ex-dividend date06/25/202606/25/2026

Bottom lineDEM and DGS are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar emerging markets exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: DGS is cheaper at 0.58% vs 0.63%.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

WisdomTree
ETFs94
Total AUM$102B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

WisdomTree is known for developing thematic and factor-based ETFs that go beyond traditional market-cap weighting approaches. The issuer maintains a broad lineup spanning dividend and income strategies, international equities, commodities, bonds, digital assets, and specialized thematic areas like megatrends and alternatives. WisdomTree's diverse fund family appeals to investors seeking both traditional income exposure and more specialized strategies, with popular tickers across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.

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Quick verdict

DEM (WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund) and DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DGS offers the higher yield at 5.25% vs 5.15% for DEM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

DGS is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.58% compared to 0.63%.

DEM is the larger fund by assets ($4.20B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose DEM

WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund

  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 0.9 for DGS.

Choose DGS

WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund

  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.58% expense ratio vs 0.63% for DEM.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DEM would generate roughly $42.92/month, while DGS would produce $43.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DEM yield5.15%
DGS yield5.25%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.83

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DEM would cost approximately $630 in fees vs $580 for DGS (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DEM ER0.63%
DGS ER0.58%

Strategy & risk

DEM is an ETF built around emerging markets exposure, while DGS tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. Beta is 0.69 for DEM and 0.94 for DGS, making DEM the less volatile of the two by this measure.

DEM beta0.69
DGS beta0.94

Fund details

DEM is managed by WisdomTree (launched 07/13/2007) with $4.20B in assets. DGS is managed by WisdomTree (launched 10/30/2007) with $1.72B in assets.

DEM AUM$4.20B
DGS AUM$1.72B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for DEM and DGS?

DEM currently distributes 5.15% and DGS 5.25%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DEM or DGS better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGS currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between DEM and DGS?

DEM (WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund) is an ETF built around emerging markets exposure, while DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. They are issued by WisdomTree and WisdomTree respectively.

Can I hold both DEM and DGS?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is DEM or DGS safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: DEM scores 75, DGS scores 75. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. DEM has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.69 vs 0.94 for DGS). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DEM or DGS?

DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while DGS charges 0.58%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DEM vs DGS generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DEM would generate roughly $42.92 per month ($515.00 annually). The same in DGS would produce about $43.75 per month ($525.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DEM or DGS?

DEM has outpaced DGS over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.90% total return against 12.91%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: DEM has compounded at 9.70% a year, against 8.61% for DGS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DEM vs DGS — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

DEM and DGS are both WisdomTree ETFs targeting emerging-markets dividend payers, but they differ fundamentally in market capitalization focus. DEM holds large-cap and mid-cap dividend stocks across emerging markets, while DGS filters for small-cap dividend payers within the same universe. Both use fundamentally weighted indexing rather than market-cap weighting, which tilts them toward value and higher-yielding names.

How they differ

The biggest distinction is market-cap exposure: DEM targets broad emerging-markets dividend stocks (large and mid-cap), while DGS narrows to small-cap names. This drives a meaningful volatility difference—DGS has a beta of 0.94 versus DEM's 0.69, meaning DGS swings more sharply with market moves. On yield, DGS edges ahead at 5.25% versus 5.15%, and carries a slightly lower expense ratio of 0.58% compared to 0.63%.

Who each is best for

DEM: Fits investors seeking emerging-markets dividend income with lower volatility and maximum liquidity. The lower beta and larger asset base suit those who want broad EM exposure without the extra swing of small-cap names.

DGS: Designed for dividend-focused investors comfortable with small-cap volatility in exchange for a modestly higher yield. Works for those building a satellite position around a core EM holding or willing to tolerate higher price swings for potential outperformance in small-cap value.

Key risks to know

  • Small-cap liquidity and concentration (DGS). Smaller companies in emerging markets carry lower trading volumes and higher bid-ask spreads than large-cap equivalents. DGS's narrow focus on small-cap dividend payers may concentrate holdings in a subset of names, amplifying single-stock risk.
  • Emerging-market currency and political risk. Both funds hold securities denominated in foreign currencies and subject to regulatory or geopolitical shifts in developing economies. Currency moves can materially affect returns independent of underlying stock performance.
  • Fundamental-weighting style risk. Both ETFs use fundamental indexing tilted toward value and dividend yield, which underperforms during growth-favoring market cycles. A prolonged shift toward growth stocks or away from dividend strategies could drag returns.
  • Beta divergence under stress. DGS's higher beta of 0.94 versus DEM's 0.69 means DGS will likely decline more sharply in EM market downturns, even though both hold dividend stocks.

Bottom line

If you want emerging-markets dividend income with lower volatility and maximum trading ease, DEM's lower beta and $4.20B in assets offer a smoother ride. If you're willing to accept higher price swings in exchange for a yield boost and smaller-cap upside potential, DGS's 5.25% yield and 0.58% expense ratio may be worth the trade. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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