DEM vs VYM
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DEM or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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 | DEM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 518 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +22.99%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +29.77%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.19% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.45% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.0%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,437 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.1%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.1 years).
DEM 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 19.1 years both funds cover.
DEM vs VYM Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, DEM is up 22.99% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, DEM compounded at +18.19% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.45% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.70% annualized vs +2.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 14.7% 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 -57.0% for DEM 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEM charges 0.63% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $4 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEM currently yields 4.19% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 501 holdings in DEM and 603 in VYM, totalling 97.9% and 99.5% 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 91 days apart, DEM as of Mar 31, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in DEM and 603 in VYM, against full books of 518 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DEM (97.4% of the fund), and 10 for DEM 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 DEM 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, DEM or VYM?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEM or VYM?
Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% vs +20.84% for VYM, so DEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DEM annualized +2.02% vs +6.70% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEM or VYM?
DEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DEM -57.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both DEM and VYM?
DEM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, DEM or VYM?
DEM yields 4.19% while VYM yields 2.24%, so DEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DEM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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.