IQLT vs VYM
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IQLT or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IQLT is less concentrated, with 23.5% 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 | IQLT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $14.0B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 325 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.58% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Tie | +17.57%Tie |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.32% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.30% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,223 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.5%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 13, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 15, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.7 years).
IQLT 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 11.7 years both funds cover.
IQLT vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) 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 IQLT returned +17.57% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, IQLT is up 11.58% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, IQLT compounded at +16.32% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.30% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.38% annualized vs +7.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 13.9% 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 -32.2% for IQLT 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IQLT charges 0.30% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $4 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IQLT currently yields 2.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 295 holdings in IQLT and 603 in VYM, totalling 98.2% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 295 positions we hold weights for in IQLT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 325 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IQLT (97.5% of the fund), and 8 for IQLT that do not appear in VYM (5.4%).
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 IQLT 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, IQLT or VYM?
IQLT has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IQLT or VYM?
Over the past year IQLT returned +17.57% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IQLT annualized +7.25% vs +9.38% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IQLT or VYM?
IQLT has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IQLT -32.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IQLT and VYM?
IQLT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, IQLT or VYM?
IQLT yields 2.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so IQLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IQLT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IQLT is less concentrated, with 23.5% 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.