EWN vs VYM
iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EWN or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWN led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%.
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 | EWN | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $618M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 60 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +16.29%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +31.61%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.59%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.62% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.5% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -68.2% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,437 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.8 years).
EWN 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
EWN vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF (EWN) 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 EWN returned +31.61% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, EWN is up 16.29% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, EWN compounded at +22.59% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.62% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs +5.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 14.5% 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 -68.2% for EWN and -58.8% 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWN charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWN currently yields 4.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 56 holdings in EWN and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.8% and 99.5% 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 56 positions we hold weights for in EWN and 603 in VYM, against full books of 60 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EWN (97.5% of the fund), and 2 for EWN that do not appear in VYM (0.3%).
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 EWN 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, EWN or VYM?
EWN has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWN or VYM?
Over the past year EWN returned +31.61% vs +17.82% for VYM, so EWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EWN annualized +5.68% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWN or VYM?
EWN has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EWN -68.2% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EWN and VYM?
EWN and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, EWN or VYM?
EWN yields 4.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EWN?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWN led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.