SCJ vs VYM
iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SCJ or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SCJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. SCJ is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | SCJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $261M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.67% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 794 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +19.24%Best | +13.75% |
| 1Y Return | +21.27%Best | +19.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.46%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.12% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.7%Best | -56.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,104 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.5%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 21, 2007 to Sep 9, 2026 (18.7 years).
SCJ 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 18.7 years both funds cover.
SCJ vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) 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 SCJ returned +21.27% while VYM returned +19.42%. Year to date, SCJ is up 19.24% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Over three years, SCJ compounded at +18.46% per year against +18.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.12% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.20% annualized vs +4.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% 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 -43.7% for SCJ and -56.1% 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
SCJ charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCJ currently yields 2.67% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 788 holdings in SCJ and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.7% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 788 positions we hold weights for in SCJ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 794 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SCJ (97.3% of the fund), and 1 for SCJ 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 SCJ 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, SCJ or VYM?
SCJ has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCJ or VYM?
Over the past year SCJ returned +21.27% vs +19.42% for VYM, so SCJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SCJ annualized +4.88% vs +7.20% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCJ or VYM?
SCJ has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SCJ -43.7% vs VYM -56.1%.
Should I hold both SCJ and VYM?
SCJ 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, SCJ or VYM?
SCJ yields 2.67% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SCJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SCJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SCJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. SCJ is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.