Fondos emergentes para diversificar la inversión

Emerging market funds have regained prominence in the investment market and are delivering returns of up to 70% in a fiscal year. These funds have returned to focus this year, propelled by a rally that has pushed them back to high positions in return rankings after several years of modest results. South Korea, Taiwan, and China, home to major semiconductor shares, have been crucial in driving the strong surge in regional stock markets over the past months.

The MSCI Emerging Markets index, which includes major shares from emerging regions, has risen by more than 25% so far this year and is up more than 34% over the past 12 months. These gains have also boosted the returns of the best funds betting on this market. In the first half of 2026, the top products have gained up to 55%, while in 12 months, they have surged above 70%.

Experts argue that emerging markets can be an interesting alternative for portfolio diversification, but always emphasize their volatility and associated risks such as defaults, inflation, and currency liquidity crises. In the current environment, other factors like potential U.S. interest rate hikes and the dollar's strength must also be considered, as they may work against them.

This year, the semiconductor sector boom has led to significant concentration in a few companies in emerging markets indexes. In this context, active management, where professional investors decide where to invest in which shares, regions, and sectors, becomes especially important. The best fund of the year in the variable income emerging markets category is the Nordea Emerging ex China Sustainable Stars Equity Fund.

It has delivered a return of 54.07% so far this year and is up 70.48% over 12 months. This fund can invest in shares worldwide, but half of its portfolio is in Asian Developed companies. Its largest positions are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. These three shares have experienced a strong rally in the stock market over the past year, driven by the development of artificial intelligence.

An important point to note about this fund is that it does not invest in China, which is a unique feature compared to similar products. China has fallen behind since the start of the pandemic, as its growth has slowed amid a real estate crisis and a de-leveraging process, according to Morningstar. Despite China's key role in the field of artificial intelligence, many of its shares are traded in Class A shares, whose access is restricted for foreign investors.

The Templeton Emerging Markets ex-China is another fund that meets this characteristic and has gained a return close to 70% this year. It invests mainly in variable income shares of companies of any capitalization traded in emerging markets. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix are also its largest investments, with the latter being its biggest position.

Other companies in its portfolio include Yageo, a Taiwanese electronic components company; MediaTek, a Taiwanese semiconductor company that designs and distributes products like wireless communication components, optical storage, GPS, high-definition TV, and DVD; and the Mexican bank Banorte. The NEF Emerging Market Equity fund achieves a similar result in 2026, with more than 50% return.

In one year, it gains close to 80%. Like most successful funds in the category in 2026, it also benefits from the trio of star companies in the semiconductor sector this year. Almost all large international managers include emerging market funds in their offer. At short term, other products such as the Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Ex-China Equity Portfolio; the Schroder International Selection Fund Emerging Markets ex China or the Invesco Funds - Invesco Emerging Markets ex-China Equity Fund stand out.

To invest in the stock market, it is important to consider the funds' results over the long term. Even more so for emerging markets. Among the products highlighted over five years (a sufficient period to consider it long term), there are the Lazard Emerging Markets Equity Fund, with a return of 15% over five years; the Pacific North of South EM All Cap Equity; the RBC Funds (Lux) - Emerging Markets ex China Equity Fund, or the BlackRock Strategic Funds - Emerging Markets Equity Strategies Fund, which all earn more than 14% annualized over the same period.