iShares JPMorgan EM High Yield Bond ETF

EMHY

Market cap $521M

The iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF offers high yield and broad geographic diversification, focusing on sovereign debt and BB-rated junk bonds. EMHY outperforms other emerging market high-yield ETFs, but lags the U.S. high-yield benchmark HYG since inception. The fund has suffered significant erosion in share price and income, especially after adjusting for inflation, raising concerns for long-term investors.

High-yielding emerging market bonds may seem doomed amid rising global economic tensions, and the beta effect that could have. Despite global-level and credit cycle concerns, the iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF seems promising given its structure and yield. Structurally, the vehicle is exposed to EMs with improving economies and debt repayment abilities. Moreover, its top constituents have manageable interest repayment abilities.

iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF offers high yield and geographic diversification, focusing on top-tier junk bonds in emerging markets. Based on performance since 2021, EMHY is one of the best, if not the best, emerging markets high yield bond ETFs. Nonetheless, I think long-term investors should avoid EMHY due to steady price decay and inflation impacts on income.

Bonds are increasingly attractive, especially in emerging markets, with the iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF offering high yields and diversification. EMHY focuses on high-yield sovereign and corporate bonds from emerging markets, reducing currency risk for U.S. investors and offering a 7.08% SEC yield. The fund's diverse portfolio includes 664 bonds, with significant exposure to sovereign debt, industrial sectors, and various emerging economies like Turkey and Brazil.

EMHY focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated high yield bonds issued by governments and corporations in emerging market countries. The fund holds a mix of sovereign and corporate bonds, with over 53% allocated to sovereign names and the rest in corporate and agency sectors. Notable holdings include Turkey, Pemex (Mexico's state-owned oil company), Brazil, and a significant exposure to Argentina.