IEMG vs VYM
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IEMG or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.9%.
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 | IEMG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $160.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.20% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 2,869 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +27.22%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.82%Best | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.76% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,218 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.9% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (13.9 years).
IEMG 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 13.9 years both funds cover.
IEMG vs VYM Performance
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) 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 IEMG returned +27.22% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, IEMG is up 19.30% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, IEMG compounded at +21.82% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.76% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.87% annualized vs +4.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IEMG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 13.2% 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 -42.2% for IEMG 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IEMG charges 0.09% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $4 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IEMG currently yields 2.20% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of IEMG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings IEMG also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 2,811 positions we hold weights for in IEMG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 2,869 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IEMG (96.8% of the fund), and 18 for IEMG that do not appear in VYM (1.1%).
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 IEMG 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, IEMG or VYM?
IEMG has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IEMG or VYM?
Over the past year IEMG returned +27.22% vs +15.34% for VYM, so IEMG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), IEMG annualized +4.78% vs +9.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IEMG or VYM?
IEMG has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 13.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IEMG -42.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IEMG and VYM?
IEMG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, IEMG or VYM?
IEMG yields 2.20% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IEMG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.