CEE vs VYM
The Central and Eastern Europe Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CEE or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CEE 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 59.5%.
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 | CEE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $147M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.70% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 60 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.33% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.58%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +33.50%Best | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.16% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,086 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.5% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | DWS ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 6, 1990 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.8 years).
CEE 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
CEE vs VYM Performance
The Central and Eastern Europe Fund Inc. (CEE) is an ETF from DWS ETF Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CEE returned +24.58% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, CEE is up 7.33% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, CEE compounded at +33.50% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -4.16% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs -0.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CEE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.3% compared with 14.6% 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 -83.0% for CEE and -58.8% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CEE charges 1.18% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $118 vs $4 annually, a gap of $114 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CEE currently yields 1.70% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in CEE and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.7% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, CEE as of Feb 27, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in CEE and 557 in VYM, against full books of 60 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for CEE (97.1% of the fund), and 1 for CEE that do not appear in VYM (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CEE 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, CEE or VYM?
CEE has an expense ratio of 1.18% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $114 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CEE or VYM?
Over the past year CEE returned +24.58% vs +15.34% for VYM, so CEE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), CEE annualized -0.32% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CEE or VYM?
CEE has been the more volatile fund at 31.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CEE -83.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both CEE and VYM?
CEE and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, CEE or VYM?
CEE yields 1.70% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CEE?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CEE 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 59.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.