EMGF vs VYM
iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EMGF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EMGF led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.8%.
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 | EMGF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.26% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.14% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 702 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +24.27%Best | +14.33% |
| 1Y Return | +37.36%Best | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.09%Best | +18.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.36% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,370 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 10, 2015 to Sep 8, 2026 (10.7 years).
EMGF 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
EMGF vs VYM Performance
iShares Emerging Markets Equity Factor ETF (EMGF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMGF returned +37.36% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, EMGF is up 24.27% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, EMGF compounded at +25.09% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.36% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, EMGF has the edge at +10.66% annualized vs +10.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 13.9% 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 -40.2% for EMGF 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMGF charges 0.26% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $26 vs $4 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMGF currently yields 2.14% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of EMGF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings EMGF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 670 positions we hold weights for in EMGF and 602 in VYM, against full books of 702 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EMGF (97.1% of the fund), and 11 for EMGF that do not appear in VYM (1.4%).
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 EMGF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton | 0.22% | 0.12% | 0.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMGF 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, EMGF or VYM?
EMGF has an expense ratio of 0.26% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMGF or VYM?
Over the past year EMGF returned +37.36% vs +20.01% for VYM, so EMGF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), EMGF annualized +10.66% vs +10.27% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMGF or VYM?
EMGF has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EMGF -40.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EMGF and VYM?
EMGF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, EMGF or VYM?
EMGF yields 2.14% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EMGF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EMGF led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.