EEMX vs VYM
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EEMX or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EEMX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window.
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 | EEMX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $187M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.80% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,070 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +24.18%Best | +13.75% |
| 1Y Return | +38.29%Best | +19.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.55%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.88% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,302 | $17,758Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 24, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2016 to Sep 9, 2026 (9.9 years).
EEMX 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
EEMX vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EEMX) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EEMX returned +38.29% while VYM returned +19.42%. Year to date, EEMX is up 24.18% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Over three years, EEMX compounded at +24.55% per year against +18.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.88% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.50% annualized vs +8.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EEMX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 14.3% 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 -39.9% for EEMX 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EEMX charges 0.30% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $4 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EEMX currently yields 1.80% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings EEMX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for EEMX, our book for it covers 91.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, EEMX 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 1,013 positions we hold weights for in EEMX and 603 in VYM, against full books of 1,070 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EEMX 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, EEMX or VYM?
EEMX has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EEMX or VYM?
Over the past year EEMX returned +38.29% vs +19.42% for VYM, so EEMX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), EEMX annualized +8.11% vs +10.50% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EEMX or VYM?
EEMX has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 14.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EEMX -39.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EEMX and VYM?
EEMX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, EEMX or VYM?
EEMX yields 1.80% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EEMX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EEMX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.