DBEF vs VYM
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DBEF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DBEF led over 5Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 3Y. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%.
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 | DBEF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $9.5B | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.27% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 2,683 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +15.19% | +15.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.88% | +19.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.23% | +19.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.98%Best | +11.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.5%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,408Best | $17,218 |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.9%Best | 25.8% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 9, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2011 to Nov 13, 2026 (15.4 years).
DBEF 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
DBEF vs VYM Performance
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF (DBEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DBEF returned +18.88% while VYM returned +19.62%. Year to date, DBEF is up 15.19% versus a gain of 15.95% for VYM.
Over three years, DBEF compounded at +19.23% per year against +19.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.98% and +11.48% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, DBEF has the edge at +10.30% annualized vs +10.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 12.4% for DBEF. 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 -32.5% for DBEF 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBEF 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, DBEF currently yields 2.27% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of DBEF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings DBEF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 59 days apart, DBEF as of Oct 29, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 656 positions we hold weights for in DBEF and 602 in VYM, against full books of 2,683 and 610.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 576 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DBEF (98.6% of the fund), and 9 for DBEF that do not appear in VYM (1.7%).
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 DBEF 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, DBEF or VYM?
DBEF 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, DBEF or VYM?
Over the past year DBEF returned +18.88% vs +19.62% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DBEF annualized +10.30% vs +10.06% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBEF or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.4% for DBEF. Worst drawdown: DBEF -32.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both DBEF and VYM?
DBEF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, DBEF or VYM?
DBEF yields 2.27% while VYM yields 2.23%, so DBEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DBEF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DBEF led over 5Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 3Y. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.