ITDJ vs VYM
iShares LifePath Target Date 2070 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ITDJ or VYM?
Target Date against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ITDJ led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | ITDJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $16M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 8 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.57% | +11.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.63%Best | +16.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8% | 10.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,374Best | $12,616 |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Target Date | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 13, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (1.8 years).
ITDJ 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
ITDJ vs VYM Performance
iShares LifePath Target Date 2070 ETF (ITDJ) 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 ITDJ returned +16.63% while VYM returned +16.24%. Year to date, ITDJ is up 11.57% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ITDJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 10.6% 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 -16.6% for ITDJ 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITDJ charges 0.12% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $4 annually, a gap of $8 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITDJ currently yields 1.22% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in ITDJ and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in ITDJ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 8 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ITDJ (97.1% of the fund), and 7 for ITDJ 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 ITDJ 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, ITDJ or VYM?
ITDJ has an expense ratio of 0.12% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITDJ or VYM?
Over the past year ITDJ returned +16.63% vs +16.24% for VYM, so ITDJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ITDJ annualized +17.53% vs +13.78% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITDJ or VYM?
ITDJ has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 10.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ITDJ -16.6% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both ITDJ and VYM?
ITDJ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, ITDJ or VYM?
ITDJ yields 1.22% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ITDJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ITDJ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.