EMIF vs VYM
iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EMIF or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | EMIF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.25% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 47 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.19% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.51% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.15% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.52% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,082 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.9% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 19, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.2 years).
EMIF 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
EMIF vs VYM Performance
iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF (EMIF) 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 EMIF returned +5.51% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, EMIF is up 0.19% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, EMIF compounded at +12.15% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.52% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.81% annualized vs +1.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMIF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 13.2% 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 -54.6% for EMIF 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMIF charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMIF currently yields 4.25% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in EMIF and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in EMIF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 47 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EMIF (97.1% of the fund), and 3 for EMIF that do not appear in VYM (7.3%).
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 EMIF 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, EMIF or VYM?
EMIF has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMIF or VYM?
Over the past year EMIF returned +5.51% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), EMIF annualized +1.56% vs +10.81% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMIF or VYM?
EMIF has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 13.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EMIF -54.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EMIF and VYM?
EMIF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, EMIF or VYM?
EMIF yields 4.25% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EMIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EMIF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.