QAT vs VYM
iShares MSCI Qatar ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QAT or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.1%.
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 | QAT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $60M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.93% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 38 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -5.16% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.48% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.91% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.64% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,847 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 29, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 1, 2014 to Sep 10, 2026 (12.4 years).
QAT 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 12.4 years both funds cover.
QAT vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (QAT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QAT returned -7.48% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, QAT is down 5.16% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, QAT compounded at +2.91% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.64% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.15% annualized vs -0.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QAT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.6% 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 -51.0% for QAT 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QAT charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QAT currently yields 4.93% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 34 holdings in QAT and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% 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 62 days apart, QAT as of Aug 31, 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 34 positions we hold weights for in QAT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 38 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for QAT (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for QAT that do not appear in VYM (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QAT 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, QAT or VYM?
QAT has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QAT or VYM?
Over the past year QAT returned -7.48% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QAT annualized -0.99% vs +9.15% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QAT or VYM?
QAT has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: QAT -51.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both QAT and VYM?
QAT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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, QAT or VYM?
QAT yields 4.93% while VYM yields 2.22%, so QAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QAT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.