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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
WisdomTree is known for offering diversified, thematically-focused ETFs that emphasize dividend income and factor-based strategies across multiple asset classes. The firm manages 28 funds spanning equities, fixed income, commodities, digital assets, and alternatives, with a particular strength in dividend and income-oriented products like its popular DGS (Emerging Markets High Dividend) and DGRW (Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth) funds. WisdomTree's lineup is characterized by its broad thematic approach, including exposure to megatrends and digital assets, alongside traditional dividend and factor-based equity strategies designed to appeal to income-focused investors.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DEM and DGS.
WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund
Issuer
WisdomTree
WisdomTree
Last Close
$53.83 as of July 15, 2026
$63.34 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield
5.39%
5.30%
Distribution Safety Score
72
76
Expense ratio
0.63%
0.58%
AUM
$4.02B
$1.80B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
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 class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
07/13/2007
10/30/2007
Beta
0.73
0.92
Last dividend
$0.7250
$0.8400
Ex-dividend date
06/25/2026
06/25/2026
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%.
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
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.
DEM offers the higher yield at 5.39% vs 5.30% for DGS. 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 ($4.02B), which generally means tighter spreads and better 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 $44.92/month, while DGS would produce $44.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
DEM yield5.39%
DGS yield5.30%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.75
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, while DGS tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index. Beta is 0.73 for DEM and 0.92 for DGS, indicating DEM is less volatile relative to the market.
DEM beta0.73
DGS beta0.92
Fund details
DEM is managed by WisdomTree (launched 07/13/2007) with $4.02B in assets. DGS is managed by WisdomTree (launched 10/30/2007) with $1.80B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DEM or DGS better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DEM 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, 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.
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 $44.92 per month ($539.00 annually). The same in DGS would produce about $44.17 per month ($530.00 annually).
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