EMLAX Performance — MFS Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund, Class A
Data updated: 2026-09-24
EMLAX returned +1.77% year to date and +9.05% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +5.69% over 3 years and +2.81% over 5 years. Against its Emerging Markets Bond category average the fund came out behind over three years but ahead over one: $100 invested three years ago grew to $118, against $126 for the category, and to $109 over one year, against $109. Volatility over the past three years was 9.07% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $33.1M, and assets reached $528.84M.
EMLAX Growth of $100
What $100 invested in MFS Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Emerging Markets Bond category average over the same months.
| Period | EMLAX | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $109 | $109 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $118 | $126 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $115 | $115 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $117 | $123 |
EMLAX Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +1.77% |
| 1 year | +9.05% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +5.69% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +2.81% |
EMLAX Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of MFS Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +1.77% |
| 2025 | +19.17% |
| 2024 | −4.42% |
| 2023 | +13.20% |
| 2022 | −8.98% |
| 2021 | −8.31% |
| 2020 | +2.43% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +3.98% |
EMLAX Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +2.0% | +1.6% | −5.8% | +2.6% | +0.9% | +0.5% | +0.2% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.0% | +0.7% | +1.9% | +3.1% | +1.4% | +2.9% | −1.3% | +2.5% | +1.3% | +0.2% | +1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | −1.8% | −0.8% | +0.1% | −3.4% | +1.9% | −1.4% | +2.7% | +2.9% | +3.5% | −5.0% | −0.5% | −2.3% |
| 2023 | +4.8% | −3.7% | +4.6% | +1.1% | −1.8% | +3.6% | +2.3% | −2.9% | −4.1% | −0.8% | +5.8% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | +0.4% | −2.8% | −1.5% | −5.9% | +1.7% | −4.6% | −0.3% | +0.2% | −5.0% | −0.1% | +7.6% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | −1.4% | −2.6% | −3.4% | +2.1% | +2.5% | −0.9% | −0.9% | +1.1% | −3.2% | −1.1% | −1.9% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | −1.2% | −3.4% | −15.1% | +4.1% | +6.9% | +0.5% | +3.7% | +0.2% | −2.1% | +0.8% | +6.0% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −2.4% | +0.8% | +2.9% | −1.8% | +4.5% |
EMLAX Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 9.07%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.13 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +5.81% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −5.81% (Mar 2026)
EMLAX Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of MFS Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $33.1M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $155.5M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 1.27×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $5.5M | $11.6M | −$6.0M |
| Jun 2026 | $7.1M | $36.3M | −$29.2M |
| May 2026 | $7.0M | $10.4M | −$3.4M |
| Apr 2026 | $15.0M | $3.8M | $11.2M |
| Mar 2026 | $46.2M | $13.4M | $32.8M |
| Feb 2026 | $43.2M | $10.6M | $32.5M |
| Jan 2026 | $11.8M | $7.7M | $4.1M |
| Dec 2025 | $7.2M | $7.0M | $205K |
| Nov 2025 | $3.8M | $9.3M | −$5.5M |
| Oct 2025 | $2.2M | $3.8M | −$1.6M |
| Sep 2025 | $3.2M | $5.1M | −$1.9M |
| Aug 2025 | $3.3M | $3.4M | −$118K |
EMLAX Assets Under Management
Net assets of MFS Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $528.84M |
| 2026-04-30 | $564.79M |
| 2026-01-31 | $504.09M |
| 2025-10-31 | $487.34M |
| 2025-07-31 | $472.90M |
| 2025-04-30 | $447.08M |
| 2025-01-31 | $467.63M |
| 2024-10-31 | $522.25M |
| 2024-07-31 | $523.06M |
| 2024-04-30 | $505.91M |
| 2024-01-31 | $524.10M |
| 2023-10-31 | $478.34M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.