EWZS vs VYM
iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EWZS or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.5%.
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 | EWZS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $221M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 81 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.83% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.15% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.95% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.30% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.5% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.7% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,367 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
EWZS 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 16 years both funds cover.
EWZS vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Brazil Small-Cap ETF (EWZS) 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 EWZS returned +1.15% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, EWZS is up 3.83% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, EWZS compounded at +1.95% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -1.30% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.46% annualized vs -2.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWZS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.5% compared with 12.9% 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 -81.7% for EWZS 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWZS 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, EWZS currently yields 4.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
2.4% of EWZS's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
EWZS and VYM share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in EWZS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 81 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EWZS (97.5% of the fund), and 3 for EWZS that do not appear in VYM (2.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWZS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAGSPagseguro Digital Ltd | 2.42% | 0.01% | 2.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWZS 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, EWZS or VYM?
EWZS 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, EWZS or VYM?
Over the past year EWZS returned +1.15% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EWZS annualized -2.77% vs +10.46% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWZS or VYM?
EWZS has been the more volatile fund at 33.5% annualized versus 12.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EWZS -81.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EWZS and VYM?
EWZS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 EWZS and VYM?
2.4% of EWZS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.0% of VYM's is in holdings EWZS also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in EWZS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWZS or VYM?
EWZS yields 4.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EWZS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EWZS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.