MFSI vs VYM
MFS Active International ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, MFSI or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. MFSI led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%.
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 | MFSI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 99 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.55% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.01% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.2% | 9.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,160Best | $12,804 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 5, 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: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.8 years).
MFSI 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.
MFSI vs VYM Performance
MFS Active International ETF (MFSI) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MFSI returned +14.01% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, MFSI is up 6.55% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MFSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.2% compared with 9.7% 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 -13.7% for MFSI 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFSI charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MFSI currently yields 0.75% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
1.0% of MFSI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings MFSI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, MFSI as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in MFSI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 99 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for MFSI (97.5% of the fund), and 4 for MFSI that do not appear in VYM (4.0%).
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 MFSI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAP:BMCredicorp Ltd | 0.97% | 0.11% | 0.86% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFSI 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, MFSI or VYM?
MFSI has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MFSI or VYM?
Over the past year MFSI returned +14.01% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MFSI annualized +16.48% vs +14.72% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFSI or VYM?
MFSI has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: MFSI -13.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both MFSI and VYM?
MFSI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, MFSI or VYM?
MFSI yields 0.75% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than MFSI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. MFSI led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.