EWY vs VYM
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EWY or VYM?
EWY has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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 60.8%.
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 | EWY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $27.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 84 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +88.44%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +141.47%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +50.72%Best | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.14%Best | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,088Best | $17,663 |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 9, 2000 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 22, 2026 (19.8 years).
EWY 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.
EWY vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) 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 EWY returned +141.47% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, EWY is up 88.44% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, EWY compounded at +50.72% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +21.14% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, EWY has the edge at +8.96% annualized vs +6.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.1% 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 -74.0% for EWY 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWY 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, EWY currently yields 1.12% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 77 holdings in EWY and 557 in VYM, totalling 98.7% 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 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 84 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EWY (97.1% of the fund), and 3 for EWY that do not appear in VYM (22.3%).
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 EWY 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, EWY or VYM?
EWY 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, EWY or VYM?
Over the past year EWY returned +141.47% vs +15.42% for VYM, so EWY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EWY annualized +8.96% vs +6.80% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWY or VYM?
EWY has been the more volatile fund at 30.1% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EWY -74.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EWY and VYM?
EWY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, EWY or VYM?
EWY yields 1.12% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EWY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.