IVAL vs VYM
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IVAL or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IVAL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 20.4% 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 | IVAL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $228M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 55 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +19.86%Best | +12.29% |
| 1Y Return | +25.25%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.37%Best | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.12% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,942 | $17,718Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.4%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 17, 2014 to Sep 17, 2026 (11.8 years).
IVAL 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
IVAL vs VYM Performance
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF (IVAL) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IVAL returned +25.25% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, IVAL is up 19.86% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, IVAL compounded at +19.37% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.12% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.08% annualized vs +5.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% 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 -49.2% for IVAL 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVAL charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVAL currently yields 2.54% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 65 holdings in IVAL 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 65 positions we hold weights for in IVAL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 55 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IVAL (97.1% of the fund), and 0 for IVAL that do not appear in VYM (0.0%).
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 IVAL 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, IVAL or VYM?
IVAL has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVAL or VYM?
Over the past year IVAL returned +25.25% vs +16.61% for VYM, so IVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IVAL annualized +5.62% vs +9.08% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVAL or VYM?
IVAL has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IVAL -49.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IVAL and VYM?
IVAL 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, IVAL or VYM?
IVAL yields 2.54% while VYM yields 2.22%, so IVAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IVAL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IVAL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 20.4% 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.