IWS vs VYM
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IWS or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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 | IWS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $15.5B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 724 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +17.82%Best | +13.91% |
| 1Y Return | +19.50%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.20% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.28% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.9% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,585 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.1%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.8 years).
IWS 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
IWS vs VYM Performance
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF (IWS) 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 IWS returned +19.50% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, IWS is up 17.82% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, IWS compounded at +17.20% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.28% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IWS has the edge at +6.95% annualized vs +6.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -63.9% for IWS and -58.8% 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWS charges 0.23% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $4 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWS currently yields 1.30% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
45.3% of IWS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 20.2% of VYM's money is in holdings IWS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
283 positions in common, counted across the 716 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 724 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 290 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IWS (77.5% of the fund), and 402 for IWS that do not appear in VYM (51.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IWS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.72% | 0.28% | 0.44% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 0.67% | 0.25% | 0.42% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.64% | 0.25% | 0.39% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.57% | 0.26% | 0.31% |
| BKRBaker Hughes A Ge Co. Class A | 0.58% | 0.23% | 0.35% |
| NUENucor Corp. | 0.57% | 0.20% | 0.37% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.52% | 0.23% | 0.29% |
| FFord Motor Co. | 0.52% | 0.23% | 0.29% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 0.50% | 0.22% | 0.28% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 0.41% | 0.31% | 0.10% |
45.3% of IWS is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IWS or VYM?
IWS has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWS or VYM?
Over the past year IWS returned +19.50% vs +17.57% for VYM, so IWS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IWS annualized +6.95% vs +6.95% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWS or VYM?
IWS has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IWS -63.9% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both IWS and VYM?
IWS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IWS and VYM?
45.3% of IWS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 20.2% of VYM's is in holdings IWS also owns. They hold 283 positions in common, counted across the 716 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWS or VYM?
IWS yields 1.30% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IWS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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.