CNYA vs VYM
iShares MSCI China A ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CNYA or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CNYA is less concentrated, with 19.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | CNYA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $225M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.84% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 416 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.74% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.87% | +20.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.21% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.69% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.5% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,183 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.1%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 13, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 15, 2016 to Sep 8, 2026 (10.2 years).
CNYA 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 10.2 years both funds cover.
CNYA vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI China A ETF (CNYA) 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 CNYA returned +7.87% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, CNYA is up 0.74% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, CNYA compounded at +10.21% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -1.69% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.30% annualized vs +5.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CNYA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 14.1% 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 -49.5% for CNYA 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 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CNYA charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CNYA currently yields 1.84% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 411 holdings in CNYA and 602 in VYM, totalling 99.8% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 411 positions we hold weights for in CNYA and 602 in VYM, against full books of 416 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 569 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for CNYA (97.2% of the fund), and 1 for CNYA that do not appear in VYM (0.1%).
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 CNYA 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, CNYA or VYM?
CNYA has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CNYA or VYM?
Over the past year CNYA returned +7.87% vs +20.01% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), CNYA annualized +5.55% vs +10.30% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CNYA or VYM?
CNYA has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 14.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CNYA -49.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both CNYA and VYM?
CNYA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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, CNYA or VYM?
CNYA yields 1.84% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CNYA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CNYA is less concentrated, with 19.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.