INTL vs VYM
Main International ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, INTL or VYM?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. INTL led over the full window, VYM over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | INTL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $247M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.42% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 10 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.32% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.64% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.97% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 11.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Tie | -14.5%Tie |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $16,946Best | $16,278 |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.8 years).
INTL 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
INTL vs VYM Performance
Main International ETF (INTL) is an ETF from Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, INTL is up 12.32% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, INTL compounded at +16.97% per year against +18.64% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, INTL has the edge at +14.89% annualized vs +13.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
INTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 11.2% 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 -14.5% for INTL and -14.5% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTL charges 0.84% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $4 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INTL currently yields 3.42% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in INTL and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, INTL as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 9 positions we hold weights for in INTL and 603 in VYM, against full books of 10 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for INTL (97.4% of the fund), and 9 for INTL that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INTL 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, INTL or VYM?
INTL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INTL or VYM?
Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), INTL annualized +14.89% vs +13.68% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTL or VYM?
INTL has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 11.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: INTL -14.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both INTL and VYM?
INTL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, INTL or VYM?
INTL yields 3.42% while VYM yields 2.24%, so INTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than INTL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. INTL led over the full window, VYM over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.