NUEM vs VYM
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NUEM or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NUEM 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 38.7%.
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 | NUEM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $423M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 181 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +20.49%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +27.62%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.02%Best | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.70% | +12.05%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.5% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,490 | $17,663Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.7% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2017 to Sep 22, 2026 (9.3 years).
NUEM 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 9.3 years both funds cover.
NUEM vs VYM Performance
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUEM returned +27.62% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, NUEM is up 20.49% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, NUEM compounded at +22.02% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.70% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.75% annualized vs +8.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 14.8% 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 NUEM 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUEM charges 0.36% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $4 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUEM currently yields 3.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 177 holdings in NUEM and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.0% and 99.2% of the two funds. That is not enough of VYM to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 177 positions we hold weights for in NUEM and 557 in VYM, against full books of 181 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for NUEM (97.0% of the fund), and 3 for NUEM that do not appear in VYM (1.2%).
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 NUEM | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XPXp Inc. Class A Common Stock | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUEM 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, NUEM or VYM?
NUEM has an expense ratio of 0.36% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUEM or VYM?
Over the past year NUEM returned +27.62% vs +15.42% for VYM, so NUEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), NUEM annualized +8.27% vs +9.75% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUEM or VYM?
NUEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: NUEM -39.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both NUEM and VYM?
NUEM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, NUEM or VYM?
NUEM yields 3.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so NUEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NUEM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NUEM 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 38.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.