IWX vs VYM
iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IWX or VYM?
Nearly the same fund. VYM costs less.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IWX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%.
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 | IWX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $4.0B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 156 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +22.43%Best | +13.91% |
| 1Y Return | +30.26%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.52%Best | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.96%Best | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.8% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,392Best | $17,758 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 22, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2009 to Sep 11, 2026 (17 years).
IWX 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 17 years both funds cover.
IWX vs VYM Performance
iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF (IWX) 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 IWX returned +30.26% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, IWX is up 22.43% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, IWX compounded at +20.52% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.96% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.17% annualized vs +9.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 13.1% 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 -35.8% for IWX 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWX charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWX currently yields 1.36% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
51.8% of IWX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 59.4% of VYM's money is in holdings IWX also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
91 positions in common, counted across the 153 positions we hold weights for in IWX and 603 in VYM, against full books of 156 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IWX (38.1% of the fund), and 59 for IWX that do not appear in VYM (47.9%).
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 IWX | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 3.52% | 3.38% | 0.14% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 2.26% | 2.54% | 0.28% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.36% | 2.36% | 0.00% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.77% | 1.93% | 0.16% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.46% | 1.85% | 0.39% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 1.43% | 1.56% | 0.13% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 1.36% | 1.56% | 0.20% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.27% | 1.42% | 0.15% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 1.30% | 1.28% | 0.02% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 1.17% | 1.32% | 0.15% |
59.4% of VYM is already inside IWX.
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, IWX or VYM?
IWX has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWX or VYM?
Over the past year IWX returned +30.26% vs +17.57% for VYM, so IWX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), IWX annualized +9.97% vs +10.17% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWX or VYM?
IWX has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IWX -35.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IWX and VYM?
IWX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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 IWX and VYM?
59.4% of VYM's money is in holdings IWX also owns. 59.4% of VYM's is in holdings IWX also owns. They hold 91 positions in common, counted across the 153 positions we hold weights for in IWX and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWX or VYM?
IWX yields 1.36% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IWX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IWX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.