JEMA vs VYM
JPMorgan ActiveBuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, JEMA or VYM?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. JEMA led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.4%.
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 | JEMA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.31% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 543 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +24.82%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +34.19%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.22%Best | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.93% | +11.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.5% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,337 | $17,334Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.4% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 11, 2021 to Oct 2, 2026 (5.6 years).
JEMA 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
JEMA vs VYM Performance
JPMorgan ActiveBuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF (JEMA) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JEMA returned +34.19% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, JEMA is up 24.82% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Over three years, JEMA compounded at +26.22% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.93% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +11.60% annualized vs +6.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JEMA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% 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 -39.5% for JEMA 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JEMA charges 0.34% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $4 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JEMA currently yields 2.31% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of JEMA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings JEMA also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, JEMA as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
6 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in JEMA and 557 in VYM, against full books of 543 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 523 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for JEMA (96.8% of the fund), and 15 for JEMA that do not appear in VYM (5.6%).
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 JEMA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAPCredicorp Ltd - Common | 0.47% | 0.11% | 0.36% |
| TIGO:LUMillicom International Cellular Sa Common Stock | 0.26% | 0.04% | 0.22% |
| BHEBenchmark Electronics Inc | 0.12% | 0.01% | 0.11% |
| SCCOSouthern Copper Corp | 0.04% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| SLMSlm Corp | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| XPXp Inc. Class A Common Stock | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JEMA 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, JEMA or VYM?
JEMA has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JEMA or VYM?
Over the past year JEMA returned +34.19% vs +13.75% for VYM, so JEMA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), JEMA annualized +6.70% vs +11.60% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JEMA or VYM?
JEMA has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 13.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: JEMA -39.5% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both JEMA and VYM?
JEMA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, JEMA or VYM?
JEMA yields 2.31% while VYM yields 2.22%, so JEMA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than JEMA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. JEMA led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.