IEUS vs VYM
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IEUS 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. IEUS is less concentrated, with 5.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | IEUS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.41% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $179M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.05% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 859 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.48% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.43% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.73% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.37% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.3% | -57.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,243 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.8%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 19, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.8 years).
IEUS 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
IEUS vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Europe Small-Cap ETF (IEUS) 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 IEUS returned +11.43% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, IEUS is up 6.48% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, IEUS compounded at +14.73% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.37% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.26% annualized vs +3.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IEUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 14.8% 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 -63.3% for IEUS and -57.3% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IEUS charges 0.41% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $41 vs $4 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IEUS currently yields 3.05% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IEUS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings IEUS 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 838 positions we hold weights for in IEUS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 859 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IEUS (97.4% of the fund), and 10 for IEUS that do not appear in VYM (0.9%).
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 IEUS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.13% | 0.11% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IEUS 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, IEUS or VYM?
IEUS has an expense ratio of 0.41% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IEUS or VYM?
Over the past year IEUS returned +11.43% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IEUS annualized +3.11% vs +7.26% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IEUS or VYM?
IEUS has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IEUS -63.3% vs VYM -57.3%.
Should I hold both IEUS and VYM?
IEUS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, IEUS or VYM?
IEUS yields 3.05% while VYM yields 2.22%, so IEUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IEUS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IEUS is less concentrated, with 5.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.