ISVL vs VYM
iShares International Developed Small Cap Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ISVL or VYM?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ISVL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISVL is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | ISVL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $337M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.06% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 538 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.57%Best | +9.59% |
| 1Y Return | +21.75%Best | +13.66% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.42%Best | +17.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.18%Best | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -30.5% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,765Best | $17,241 |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.8%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 23, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 25, 2021 to Sep 28, 2026 (5.5 years).
ISVL 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
ISVL vs VYM Performance
iShares International Developed Small Cap Value Factor ETF (ISVL) 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 ISVL returned +21.75% while VYM returned +13.66%. Year to date, ISVL is up 13.57% versus a gain of 9.59% for VYM.
Over three years, ISVL compounded at +24.42% per year against +17.87% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.18% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, ISVL has the edge at +11.94% annualized vs +11.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISVL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 13.4% 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 -30.5% for ISVL and -15.8% 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
ISVL charges 0.31% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $31 vs $4 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISVL currently yields 3.06% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of ISVL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings ISVL 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 500 positions we hold weights for in ISVL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 538 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ISVL (97.0% of the fund), and 5 for ISVL that do not appear in VYM (0.8%).
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 ISVL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.29% | 0.11% | 0.18% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISVL 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, ISVL or VYM?
ISVL has an expense ratio of 0.31% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISVL or VYM?
Over the past year ISVL returned +21.75% vs +13.66% for VYM, so ISVL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ISVL annualized +11.94% vs +11.55% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISVL or VYM?
ISVL has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 13.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ISVL -30.5% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both ISVL and VYM?
ISVL 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, ISVL or VYM?
ISVL yields 3.06% while VYM yields 2.22%, so ISVL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ISVL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ISVL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ISVL is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.