PIEQ vs VYM
Principal International Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PIEQ or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PIEQ led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%.
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 | PIEQ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 48 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +9.91% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.54% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.8%Best | 10.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,645Best | $12,802 |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.9% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 6, 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: Nov 6, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.8 years).
PIEQ 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.
PIEQ vs VYM Performance
Principal International Equity ETF (PIEQ) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PIEQ returned +17.54% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, PIEQ is up 9.91% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.3% compared with 9.8% for PIEQ. 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 -15.2% for PIEQ 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PIEQ charges 0.48% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $4 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PIEQ currently yields 1.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 36 holdings in PIEQ and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.8% and 99.5% 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 49 days apart, PIEQ 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in PIEQ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 48 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PIEQ (97.5% of the fund), and 4 for PIEQ that do not appear in VYM (11.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PIEQ 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, PIEQ or VYM?
PIEQ has an expense ratio of 0.48% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PIEQ or VYM?
Over the past year PIEQ returned +17.54% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PIEQ annualized +23.61% vs +14.71% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PIEQ or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.3% annualized versus 9.8% for PIEQ. Worst drawdown: PIEQ -15.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PIEQ and VYM?
PIEQ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, PIEQ or VYM?
PIEQ yields 1.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PIEQ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PIEQ led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.