EES vs VYM
WisdomTree US SmallCap Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EES or VYM?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EES led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. EES is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | EES | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $709M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.13% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 903 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +16.30%Best | +10.24% |
| 1Y Return | +19.35%Best | +14.89% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.02% | +18.00%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.13% | +11.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.5% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,111 | $17,172Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 23, 2007 to Sep 25, 2026 (19.6 years).
EES 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
EES vs VYM Performance
WisdomTree US SmallCap Fund (EES) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EES returned +19.35% while VYM returned +14.89%. Year to date, EES is up 16.30% versus a gain of 10.24% for VYM.
Over three years, EES compounded at +17.02% per year against +18.00% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.13% and +11.42% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, EES has the edge at +7.63% annualized vs +6.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.3% 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 -64.5% for EES 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EES charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EES currently yields 1.13% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
18.9% of EES's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.0% of VYM's money is in holdings EES also owns.
EES and VYM share little of their money.
76 positions in common, counted across the 850 positions we hold weights for in EES and 557 in VYM, against full books of 903 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 460 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EES (96.1% of the fund), and 748 for EES that do not appear in VYM (76.6%).
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 EES | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OGNOrganon & Co | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| VIRTVirtu Financial Inc Class A | 0.71% | 0.02% | 0.69% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.70% | 0.02% | 0.68% |
| HOGHarley-Davidson | 0.57% | 0.01% | 0.56% |
| NOGNorthern Oil And Gas Inc | 0.53% | 0.01% | 0.52% |
| CBTCabot Corp | 0.50% | 0.02% | 0.48% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 0.44% | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| FBP:PRFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 0.42% | 0.02% | 0.40% |
| CNXCConcentrix Corporation | 0.44% | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| PRGOPerrigo Company Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.42% | 0.01% | 0.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EES 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, EES or VYM?
EES has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EES or VYM?
Over the past year EES returned +19.35% vs +14.89% for VYM, so EES leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EES annualized +7.63% vs +6.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EES or VYM?
EES has been the more volatile fund at 22.3% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EES -64.5% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EES and VYM?
EES and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 EES and VYM?
18.9% of EES's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.0% of VYM's is in holdings EES also owns. They hold 76 positions in common, counted across the 850 positions we hold weights for in EES and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EES or VYM?
EES yields 1.13% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EES?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EES led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. EES is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.