EQLT vs VYM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EQLT or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.8%.
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 | EQLT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.36% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 323 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +27.80%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +46.97%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.83% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.83% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.8% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,067 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 25, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (12.5 years).
EQLT 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 12.5 years both funds cover.
EQLT vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF (EQLT) 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 EQLT returned +46.97% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, EQLT is up 27.80% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, EQLT compounded at +3.83% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.83% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.55% annualized vs +3.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 13.5% 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 -45.8% for EQLT 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EQLT charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EQLT currently yields 2.36% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.6% of EQLT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings EQLT also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 299 positions we hold weights for in EQLT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 323 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EQLT (97.2% of the fund), and 6 for EQLT that do not appear in VYM (1.2%).
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 EQLT 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, EQLT or VYM?
EQLT has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EQLT or VYM?
Over the past year EQLT returned +46.97% vs +20.84% for VYM, so EQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), EQLT annualized +3.81% vs +9.55% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EQLT or VYM?
EQLT has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 13.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EQLT -45.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EQLT and VYM?
EQLT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, EQLT or VYM?
EQLT yields 2.36% while VYM yields 2.24%, so EQLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EQLT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.