AAXJ vs VYM
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AAXJ or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAXJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 959 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +22.50%Best | +9.71% |
| 1Y Return | +31.04%Best | +13.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.67%Best | +17.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.53% | +11.45%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4% | -49.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,057 | $17,195Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.9% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2008 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2008 to Sep 24, 2026 (18.1 years).
AAXJ vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 18.1 years both funds cover.
AAXJ vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAXJ returned +31.04% while VYM returned +13.77%. Year to date, AAXJ is up 22.50% versus a gain of 9.71% for VYM.
Over three years, AAXJ compounded at +24.67% per year against +17.30% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.53% and +11.45% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +8.10% annualized vs +5.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 14.8% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -49.4% for AAXJ and -49.3% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAXJ charges 0.72% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $4 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAXJ currently yields 1.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of AAXJ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings AAXJ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 840 positions we hold weights for in AAXJ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 959 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AAXJ (97.0% of the fund), and 7 for AAXJ that do not appear in VYM (8.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAXJ | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.08% | 0.11% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAXJ and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAXJ or VYM?
AAXJ has an expense ratio of 0.72% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAXJ or VYM?
Over the past year AAXJ returned +31.04% vs +13.77% for VYM, so AAXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AAXJ annualized +5.37% vs +8.10% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAXJ or VYM?
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AAXJ -49.4% vs VYM -49.3%.
Should I hold both AAXJ and VYM?
AAXJ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAXJ or VYM?
AAXJ yields 1.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AAXJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.