EWP vs VYM
iShares MSCI Spain ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EWP or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWP 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 74.1%.
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 | EWP | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.68% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 28 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +14.08%Best | +11.47% |
| 1Y Return | +30.64%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +34.51%Best | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.59%Best | +12.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.5% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.7% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,576Best | $17,901 |
| Top 10 Weight | 74.1% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | 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 21, 2026 (19.8 years).
EWP 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.
EWP vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Spain ETF (EWP) 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 EWP returned +30.64% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, EWP is up 14.08% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, EWP compounded at +34.51% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +21.59% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs +1.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.5% compared with 14.6% 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 -73.7% for EWP 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWP 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, EWP currently yields 2.68% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 22 holdings in EWP and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.2% 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 22 positions we hold weights for in EWP and 557 in VYM, against full books of 28 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EWP (97.1% of the fund), and 1 for EWP that do not appear in VYM (0.1%).
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 EWP 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, EWP or VYM?
EWP 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, EWP or VYM?
Over the past year EWP returned +30.64% vs +15.94% for VYM, so EWP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EWP annualized +1.66% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWP or VYM?
EWP has been the more volatile fund at 24.5% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EWP -73.7% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EWP and VYM?
EWP and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, EWP or VYM?
EWP yields 2.68% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EWP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EWP?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWP 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 74.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.