PJIO vs VYM
PGIM Jennison Focused International Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PJIO or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.7%.
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 | PJIO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $59M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 49 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.17% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.72% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.5% | 10.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $12,257 | $15,474Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 14, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2023 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.7 years).
PJIO 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
PJIO vs VYM Performance
PGIM Jennison Focused International Equity ETF (PJIO) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PJIO returned -2.72% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, PJIO is down 1.17% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PJIO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 10.1% 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 -19.4% for PJIO 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PJIO charges 0.54% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $4 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PJIO currently yields 0.19% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in PJIO and 603 in VYM, totalling 98.5% 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 64 days apart, PJIO as of Sep 2, 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 26 positions we hold weights for in PJIO and 603 in VYM, against full books of 49 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PJIO (97.5% of the fund), and 2 for PJIO that do not appear in VYM (5.2%).
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 PJIO 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, PJIO or VYM?
PJIO has an expense ratio of 0.54% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PJIO or VYM?
Over the past year PJIO returned -2.72% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PJIO or VYM?
PJIO has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 10.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PJIO -19.4% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PJIO and VYM?
PJIO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, PJIO or VYM?
PJIO yields 0.19% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PJIO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.