FPXI vs VYM
First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, FPXI or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FPXI led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.3%.
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 | FPXI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $290M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.66% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 63 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.00%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +17.07% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.19%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.93% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.8% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,474 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.3% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 7, 2014 to Sep 10, 2026 (11.8 years).
FPXI 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
FPXI vs VYM Performance
First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF (FPXI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FPXI returned +17.07% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, FPXI is up 15.00% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, FPXI compounded at +21.19% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.93% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +8.94% annualized vs +7.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FPXI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 13.8% 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 -55.8% for FPXI 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FPXI charges 0.70% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $4 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPXI currently yields 0.66% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.6% of FPXI's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in FPXI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 63 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for FPXI (97.5% of the fund), and 3 for FPXI that do not appear in VYM (9.6%).
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 FPXI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NENoble Corp Plc | 0.55% | 0.02% | 0.53% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FPXI 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, FPXI or VYM?
FPXI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPXI or VYM?
Over the past year FPXI returned +17.07% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), FPXI annualized +7.74% vs +8.94% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPXI or VYM?
FPXI has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 13.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: FPXI -55.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both FPXI and VYM?
FPXI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, FPXI or VYM?
FPXI yields 0.66% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than FPXI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FPXI led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.