AVEM vs VYM
Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AVEM or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AVEM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y.
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 | AVEM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $28.1B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 3,967 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +21.67%Best | +15.29% |
| 1Y Return | +36.59%Best | +22.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.05%Best | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.13% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,200 | $17,734Best |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 19, 2019 to Sep 3, 2026 (7 years).
AVEM 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 7 years both funds cover.
AVEM vs VYM Performance
Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVEM returned +36.59% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, AVEM is up 21.67% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Over three years, AVEM compounded at +24.05% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.13% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, AVEM has the edge at +12.18% annualized vs +11.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 15.3% 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 -36.0% for AVEM and -35.7% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVEM charges 0.33% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $4 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVEM currently yields 1.98% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings AVEM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AVEM, our book for it covers 91.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
5 positions in common, counted across the 1,199 positions we hold weights for in AVEM and 603 in VYM, against full books of 3,967 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVEM 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, AVEM or VYM?
AVEM has an expense ratio of 0.33% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVEM or VYM?
Over the past year AVEM returned +36.59% vs +22.23% for VYM, so AVEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AVEM annualized +12.18% vs +11.72% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVEM or VYM?
AVEM has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AVEM -36.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both AVEM and VYM?
AVEM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, AVEM or VYM?
AVEM yields 1.98% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AVEM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AVEM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.