PCEM vs VYM
Polen Capital Emerging Markets ex-China Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PCEM or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PCEM led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%.
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 | PCEM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 35 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 11.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.9% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $11,909 | $12,503Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.0% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Polen Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 10, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 191 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PCEM has data through Mar 16, 2026 and VYM through Sep 23, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 11, 2024 to Mar 16, 2026 (1.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 11.1% 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 -19.9% for PCEM 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCEM charges 1.00% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $4 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCEM currently yields 0.34% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 35 holdings in PCEM and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.2% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 245 days apart, PCEM as of Nov 28, 2025 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in PCEM and 557 in VYM, against full books of 35 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PCEM (97.1% of the fund), and 1 for PCEM that do not appear in VYM (3.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCEM 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, PCEM or VYM?
PCEM has an expense ratio of 1.00% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PCEM or VYM?
PCEM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 11.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PCEM -19.9% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PCEM and VYM?
PCEM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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, PCEM or VYM?
PCEM yields 0.34% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PCEM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PCEM led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.