EMES vs VYM
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EMES or VYM?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EMES led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%.
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 | EMES | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 60 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +25.90%Best | +11.47% |
| 1Y Return | +31.22%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 9.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.0% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $14,733Best | $12,845 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.0% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 14, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.4 years).
EMES 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
EMES vs VYM Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF (EMES) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMES returned +31.22% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, EMES is up 25.90% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 9.3% 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 -13.0% for EMES and -6.7% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMES charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMES currently yields 0.43% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
1.6% of EMES's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings EMES also owns.
EMES and VYM share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 557 in VYM, against full books of 60 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EMES (97.0% of the fund), and 4 for EMES that do not appear in VYM (6.8%).
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 EMES | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAPCredicorp Ltd - Common | 1.57% | 0.11% | 1.46% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMES 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, EMES or VYM?
EMES has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMES or VYM?
Over the past year EMES returned +31.22% vs +15.94% for VYM, so EMES leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EMES annualized +31.89% vs +19.58% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMES or VYM?
EMES has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 9.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EMES -13.0% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both EMES and VYM?
EMES and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 EMES and VYM?
1.6% of EMES's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings EMES also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMES or VYM?
EMES yields 0.43% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EMES?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EMES led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.