Best Mutual Funds Awards 2026: International Bond Funds

2026-03-20 12:47:12

If you’re evaluating mutual funds for your investment portfolio or retirement account, this list highlights the best international bond funds to consider now, based on each fund outperforming the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index over the past one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods. This signifies outperformance in both the short term and long haul.

Shaded cells in the table below indicate the five best bond funds based on 10-year performance.

Of 86 international bond funds at least 10 years old, 63 of them, or 73%, won IBD Best Mutual Funds 2026 awards.

An international bond is an investment in debt that is issued by foreign entities. A U.S.-based international bond fund might invest in government and corporate bonds issued in foreign countries.

For more details, read about how the best mutual funds deliver benchmark-beating returns, and see the full 2026 list of IBD’s Best Mutual Funds in every category, including bond funds, diversified stock funds, blend and index funds.

All returns are as of Dec. 31, 2025.

Best International Bond Funds

Fund
Symbol
1-year total return
3-year total return
5-year total return
10-year total return
Morningstar category
Annual report net expense ratio
—
Benchmark:Bloomberg Global Aggregate TR USD

8.17%
3.98%
-2.15%
1.26%


Eaton Vance Emerging Markets Dbt Opps R6
EELDX
17.42
14.55
7.45
8.13
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.73%
American Beacon DevelopingWldIncFd-R5Cl
AGEIX
19.19
16.05
8.22
7.89
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.09
GMO Emerging Country Debt III
GMCDX
22.34
17.72
6.15
7.12
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.60
Franklin Emerging Market Debt Opps
FEMDX
15.69
14.31
6.70
6.96
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.00
Nuveen Emerging Markets Debt R6
TEDNX
13.83
11.64
3.38
6.05
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.61
Eaton Vance Emerging Markets Local Inc A
EEIAX
25.68
12.15
2.78
5.81
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
1.18
PIMCO Emerging Mkts Lcl Ccy and Bd Instl
PELBX
22.92
12.15
4.02
5.57
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.90
PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond Instl
PEBIX
15.43
11.72
2.71
5.46
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.19
Fidelity Series Emerging Markets Debt*
FEDCX
14.87
11.71
3.46
5.29
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.00
Dodge & Cox Global Bond I
DODLX
11.51
7.99
2.77
5.26
US Fund Global Bond
0.45
JHancock Emerging Markets Debt I
JMKIX
12.14
10.53
2.37
5.13
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.87
RBC BlueBay Emerging Market Debt I
RBESX
14.64
12.32
3.15
5.11
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.78
Nomura Emerging Markets Debt Corp A
DEDAX
8.66
8.25
2.58
5.11
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.04
PIMCO Emerg Mkts Full Spectrum Bd Instl
PFSIX
18.42
10.80
2.77
5.08
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.10
SEI Emerging Markets Debt A (SIIT)
SEDAX
20.34
12.50
2.96
5.06
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.44
Transamerica Emerging Markets Debt I
EMTIX
14.58
10.69
2.44
5.02
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.84
Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Mkts Bond I
SHCDX
8.80
8.70
2.93
5.02
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.98
Virtus Stone Harbor Emerg Mkts Dbt Inc I
SHMDX
15.12
12.91
2.42
4.94
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.72
Payden Emerging Markets Bond
PYEMX
15.26
11.79
2.42
4.92
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.73
Fidelity New Markets Income
FNMIX
14.84
11.80
3.11
4.65
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.77
Hartford Schroders EmMkts Mlt-Sect Bd I
SMSNX
16.04
11.43
2.84
4.63
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.60
DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Inc I
DBLEX
8.39
8.74
2.11
4.63
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.93
TCW Emerging Markets Income I
TGEIX
14.59
11.29
1.53
4.61
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.85
PIMCO Emerging Markets Corp Bd Instl
PEMIX
9.94
7.68
1.45
4.53
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.05
T. Rowe Price Emerging Mkts Corp Bd
TRECX
8.66
7.80
1.55
4.51
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.88
MFS Emerging Markets Debt I
MEDIX
12.46
10.01
2.03
4.50
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.82
Federated Hermes Emerging Market Debt A
IHIAX
17.06
12.49
2.90
4.43
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
2.11
MFS Emerging Markets Debt Lcl Ccy I
EMLIX
19.51
9.20
1.73
4.36
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.86
NYLI Candriam Emerging Markets Debt Cl A
MGHAX
13.27
11.05
1.56
4.32
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.15
American Century Emerging Mkts Dbt R6
AEXDX
14.95
8.59
2.00
4.32
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.70
Hartford Emerging Markets Local Debt Y
HLDYX
18.89
9.51
1.83
4.30
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.88
Lord Abbett Emerging Markets Corp Dbt I
LCDIX
8.53
7.45
1.97
4.29
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.85
Invesco Emerging Markets Local Debt Y
OEMYX
19.65
9.12
1.27
4.25
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.94
SEI Emerging Markets Debt F (SIT)
SITEX
19.85
11.79
2.15
4.21
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.06
PIMCO Em Mkts Ccy and S/T Invsmt Instl
PLMIX
17.24
8.93
3.93
4.15
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.85
DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income S*
SCEMX
14.07
12.02
2.26
4.14
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.92
T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond
PREMX
14.13
11.13
2.05
4.10
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.98
Columbia Emerging Markets Bond A
REBAX
12.62
9.56
1.44
4.09
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.12
PGIM Emerging Markets Dbt Lcl Ccy Z
EMDZX
19.46
9.30
1.33
4.01
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.72
Ashmore Emerging Mkts Lcl Ccy Bd Instl
ELBIX
19.16
9.09
1.14
4.01
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.80
T. Rowe Price Emerg Mkts Lcl Ccy Bd
PRELX
19.32
9.45
1.09
3.93
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
1.02
Lord Abbett Emerging Markets Bond A
LDMAX
13.92
10.46
1.97
3.91
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.99
Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Dbt Instl
GSDIX
14.43
11.35
1.37
3.86
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.85
PIMCO Global Advantage Strategy Bd Instl
PSAIX
8.85
6.62
1.66
3.80
US Fund Global Bond
0.99
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Debt I
JEMDX
14.54
10.65
1.32
3.75
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.79
TCW Emerging Markets Local Ccy Inc I
TGWIX
21.09
9.72
0.99
3.75
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.85
Payden Emerging Markets Local Bond Inv
PYELX
19.78
9.37
1.36
3.67
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.99
Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Crdt Inst
GIMDX
10.28
9.01
1.23
3.57
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
0.84
JHancock Opportunistic Fixed Inc 1
JIGDX
9.23
5.86
0.75
3.17
US Fund Global Bond
0.85
Ashmore Emerging Markets Tot Ret Instl
EMKIX
17.17
9.87
-1.20
2.92
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.21
Virtus Stone Harbor Local Markets I
SHLMX
19.32
7.97
0.40
2.91
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
1.00
Federated Hermes Intl Bond Strategy
FIBPX
11.19
7.42
-0.48
2.90
US Fund Global Bond
0.00
Invesco Global Strategic Income A
OPSIX
12.79
8.17
1.55
2.90
US Fund Global Bond
1.03
Invesco International Bond A
OIBAX
16.83
8.83
0.14
2.82
US Fund Global Bond
1.03
Templeton Sustainable Em Mkts Bd Advisor
FEMZX
26.76
11.21
3.17
2.77
US Fund Emerging-Markets Local-Currency Bond
0.89
BlackRock Strategic Global Bond Instl
MAWIX
8.48
5.17
-0.37
2.62
US Fund Global Bond
0.53
EuroPac International Bond A
EPIBX
12.89
6.27
1.19
2.58
US Fund Global Bond
1.15
Eaton Vance Diversified Currency Inc A
EAIIX
14.57
6.48
0.20
2.56
US Fund Global Bond
1.10
Saturna Sustainable Bond
SEBFX
10.10
5.33
0.95
2.28
US Fund Global Bond
0.65
Rydex Emerging Markets Bond Strategy H
RYGTX
11.25
8.18
-0.68
2.13
US Fund Emerging Markets Bond
1.60
Voya Global Bond I
IGBIX
8.72
4.87
-2.00
1.93
US Fund Global Bond
0.65
VALIC Company I International Govt Bond
VCIFX
9.15
4.63
-2.01
1.64
US Fund Global Bond
0.84
TCW Global Bond I
TGGBX
10.17
4.83
-1.87
1.58
US Fund Global Bond
0.60

Sources: IBD, Morningstar Direct

Fund is closed to new investors

The 2026 Best Mutual Funds logo and accolades are available for licensing through Investor’s Business Daily’s partner, The YGS Group. For more information and ordering, please visit www.IBDlicensing.com or call 800-290-5460.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Fidelity Gets Kudos For Stock Funds, But Its Bond Funds Shine

Best Mutual Funds: Are Value Funds Critical For Diversification?

See The Benchmark-Beating Funds In Every Category

The Four Pillars Of The IBD Methodology For Stock Market Success

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.