EPU vs VYM
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EPU or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%.
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 | EPU | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $560M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 34 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +30.13%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +62.15%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +51.00%Best | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +34.35%Best | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $43,771Best | $17,663 |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.3% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 22, 2009 to Sep 22, 2026 (17.3 years).
EPU 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 17.3 years both funds cover.
EPU vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF (EPU) 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 EPU returned +62.15% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, EPU is up 30.13% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, EPU compounded at +51.00% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +34.35% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.96% annualized vs +9.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% 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 -64.6% for EPU 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPU charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPU currently yields 1.86% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
46.0% of EPU's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings EPU also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
2 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in EPU and 557 in VYM, against full books of 34 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 526 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EPU (96.9% of the fund), and 2 for EPU that do not appear in VYM (2.8%).
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.
46.0% of EPU is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EPU or VYM?
EPU has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPU or VYM?
Over the past year EPU returned +62.15% vs +15.42% for VYM, so EPU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), EPU annualized +9.47% vs +10.96% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPU or VYM?
EPU has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 13.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EPU -64.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EPU and VYM?
EPU and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 EPU and VYM?
46.0% of EPU's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's is in holdings EPU also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in EPU and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EPU or VYM?
EPU yields 1.86% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EPU?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.