ISRL vs VYM
Defiance KSM Israel 120 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ISRL or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ISRL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | ISRL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 119 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -3.61% | +12.10%Best |
| 1Y Return | +90.38%Best | +15.66% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.15%Best | +19.59% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 53.8% | 11.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -10.7%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $23,197Best | $16,472 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 31, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2023 to Oct 19, 2026 (3.6 years).
ISRL 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
ISRL vs VYM Performance
Defiance KSM Israel 120 ETF (ISRL) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ISRL returned +90.38% while VYM returned +15.66%. Year to date, ISRL is down 3.61% versus a gain of 12.10% for VYM.
Over three years, ISRL compounded at +31.15% per year against +19.59% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, ISRL has the edge at +26.33% annualized vs +14.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISRL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 53.8% compared with 11.5% 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 -10.7% for ISRL 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 -0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISRL charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISRL currently yields 0.00% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 119 holdings in ISRL and 602 in VYM, totalling 99.6% and 100.0% 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 119 positions we hold weights for in ISRL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 119 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 575 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ISRL (98.3% of the fund), and 10 for ISRL that do not appear in VYM (6.4%).
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 ISRL 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, ISRL or VYM?
ISRL has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISRL or VYM?
Over the past year ISRL returned +90.38% vs +15.66% for VYM, so ISRL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), ISRL annualized +26.33% vs +14.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISRL or VYM?
ISRL has been the more volatile fund at 53.8% annualized versus 11.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ISRL -10.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both ISRL and VYM?
ISRL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of -0.29, 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, ISRL or VYM?
ISRL yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ISRL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ISRL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.