SPEU vs VYM
State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SPEU or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SPEU led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | SPEU | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $733M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,737 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +5.70% | +10.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.62% | +14.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.91%Best | +17.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.26% | +11.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.5% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,871 | $17,311Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.4%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2002 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 23, 2026 (19.9 years).
SPEU 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
SPEU vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF (SPEU) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPEU returned +13.62% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, SPEU is up 5.70% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Over three years, SPEU compounded at +17.91% per year against +17.50% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.26% and +11.60% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.76% annualized vs +1.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 14.6% 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 -64.5% for SPEU and -58.8% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPEU charges 0.07% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $4 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPEU currently yields 3.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SPEU's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.7% of VYM's money is in holdings SPEU also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, SPEU as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
5 positions in common, counted across the 1,665 positions we hold weights for in SPEU and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,737 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 523 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SPEU (96.4% of the fund), and 40 for SPEU that do not appear in VYM (5.9%).
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 SPEU 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, SPEU or VYM?
SPEU has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPEU or VYM?
Over the past year SPEU returned +13.62% vs +14.28% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPEU annualized +1.61% vs +6.76% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPEU or VYM?
SPEU has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SPEU -64.5% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both SPEU and VYM?
SPEU and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, SPEU or VYM?
SPEU yields 3.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SPEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SPEU?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SPEU led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.