Invesco RAFI Strategic Emerging Markets ETF (ISEM) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the performance of the RAFI Fundamental Select Emerging Markets 350 Index, focusing on large-cap equities from emerging markets selected and weighted by fundamental measures of firm size including book value, cash flow, sales, and dividends. The fund invests at least 90% of its total assets in securities comprising the index, including American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) representing those securities; it targets high-quality, large-sized emerging market companies screened by quality metrics and weighted by fundamental size scores. Launched on September 12, 2018, by Invesco Ltd., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ETF operates primarily in the equity emerging markets segment, with exposure to regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and other developing economies including holdings like Tata Motors Ltd. ADR and various currencies tied to emerging markets.
The fund emphasizes fundamental weighting over traditional market-cap approaches to capture upside potential in emerging markets while mitigating concentration risks. Geographically, it provides broad exposure to emerging market equities across countries like China, India, Brazil, Taiwan, Indonesia, and others, serving institutional and retail investors seeking diversified access to high-fundamental-strength companies in these regions. Invesco Ltd., the sponsor and issuer through Invesco Exchange-Traded Self-Indexed Fund Trust, manages the ETF as part of its broader lineup of RAFI-branded products developed in strategic alliance with Research Affiliates.
Recent developments include ongoing portfolio adjustments reflecting high cash positions and minimal active equity holdings as of late 2025, with approximately 99% in cash/other assets amid market volatility; the fund maintained trading activity, with shares priced around $23.44 and a dividend yield of about 1.3% as of December 2025. Invesco Ltd. has expanded its overall ETF offerings, reaching $2 trillion in assets under management by Q2 2025 through active ETF innovations and diversified strategies, though no specific acquisitions, partnerships, or liquidations directly impacted ISEM in the last 1-2 years. The ETF continues to distribute dividends quarterly, with the latest reported on December 19, 2022, at $0.08 per share, supporting its role in income-focused emerging markets portfolios.