WisdomTree launches the True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF
15 APR, 2026
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
WisdomTree, a global financial products provider, announced the launch of the WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (WEM). WEM aims to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS Index (the “Index”), with a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.25%. WEM begins trading on Börse Xetra, Borsa Italiana, Euronext Paris, and SIX Swiss Exchange, and will begin trading on the London Stock Exchange on April 16, 2026.
This proprietary index is designed to provide diversified exposure to countries that remain truly emerging in terms of economic development and capital market maturity, offering investors a more selective way to access long-term emerging markets growth.
Unlike traditional emerging markets benchmarks, which can be dominated by a small number of large and increasingly mature markets, the index uses a systematic, multi-factor framework to identify economies that still exhibit development-driven growth characteristics. As such, the ETF avoids investing in China, Korea, and Taiwan—countries typically included in most broad emerging market strategies.
Traditional emerging market indices have evolved over time and are now often dominated by a small number of large markets and mega-cap companies. As a result, broad emerging market exposure can increasingly resemble a concentrated investment in a single country or stock, rather than a diversified investment in development-driven growth. The WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF is designed to address this challenge by redefining the emerging markets universe based on development and market maturity, rather than relying solely on traditional classifications.
Pierre Debru, Head of Research, Europe, WisdomTree, said:
Investing in emerging markets is fundamentally about capturing the growth potential that arises when economies transition from low income to middle income. This development process is typically accompanied by increased productivity, expanding domestic demand, improving institutions, and more developed capital markets. This innovative strategy is designed to reclaim that original intent by focusing on countries where rising incomes, structural change, and capital market development remain powerful drivers of long-term returns.
Unlike traditional emerging market benchmarks, which rely on outdated country classifications and tend to overweight a few large, more mature economies, WEM uses a proprietary multi-metric framework to identify countries that qualify as “true emerging markets.” This framework analyzes macroeconomic data for each country, including IMF World Economic Outlook classifications, GDP per capita, the United Nations Human Development Index, sovereign credit ratings, and GDP growth dynamics, as well as the accessibility and tradability of the local equity market.
WEM provides targeted exposure to high-growth, under-owned emerging market countries such as India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam—economies where favorable demographics, digital advancement, and low capital market penetration continue to offer significant long-term growth potential.
Alexis Marinof, CEO, Europe, WisdomTree, added:
When we launch new products, our intention is to deliver investment solutions that address real portfolio challenges. This launch offers investors a more thoughtful way to access emerging markets growth—one that better aligns with the original purpose of emerging market investing and complements global equity allocations in a disciplined and transparent manner.
ETF Information
| ETF Name | TER | Exchange | Listing Currency | Ticker | ISIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | LSE | USD | WEM | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | LSE | GBx | WEMP | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | Borsa Italiana | EUR | WEM | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | Xetra | EUR | WEMT | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | Euronext Paris | EUR | WEM | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
| WisdomTree True Emerging Markets UCITS ETF | 0.25% | SIX Swiss Exchange | USD | WEMT | IE000Q1M7HB8 |
