COPA vs VYM
Themes Copper Miners ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, COPA or VYM?
Commodities against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. COPA led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.7%.
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 | COPA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.84% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 59 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +28.96%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +86.58%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 34.2% | 10.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $21,820Best | $13,367 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Themes ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Commodities | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.9 years).
COPA 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
COPA vs VYM Performance
Themes Copper Miners ETF (COPA) is an ETF from Themes ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year COPA returned +86.58% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, COPA is up 28.96% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COPA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.2% compared with 10.3% 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 -34.7% for COPA and -14.5% 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COPA charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COPA currently yields 3.84% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
3.1% of COPA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings COPA also owns.
COPA and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, COPA as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in COPA and 603 in VYM, against full books of 59 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 569 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for COPA (97.3% of the fund), and 3 for COPA that do not appear in VYM (9.6%).
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 COPA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCCOSouthern Copper Corp | 3.08% | 0.07% | 3.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of COPA 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, COPA or VYM?
COPA has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COPA or VYM?
Over the past year COPA returned +86.58% vs +20.84% for VYM, so COPA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), COPA annualized +50.78% vs +16.50% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COPA or VYM?
COPA has been the more volatile fund at 34.2% annualized versus 10.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: COPA -34.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both COPA and VYM?
COPA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between COPA and VYM?
3.1% of COPA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings COPA also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in COPA and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, COPA or VYM?
COPA yields 3.84% while VYM yields 2.24%, so COPA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than COPA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. COPA led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.