TIER vs VYM
T. Rowe Price International Equity Research ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TIER or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TIER led over 1Y and the full window. TIER is less concentrated, with 16.7% 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 | TIER | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.66% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 411 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.45%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +22.71%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 8.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.1% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,909Best | $12,530 |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.7%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | T.Rowe Price | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.2 years).
TIER 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
TIER vs VYM Performance
T. Rowe Price International Equity Research ETF (TIER) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TIER returned +22.71% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, TIER is up 13.45% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TIER has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 8.9% 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 -12.1% for TIER and -6.7% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TIER charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TIER currently yields 0.66% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of TIER's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings TIER also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 390 positions we hold weights for in TIER and 603 in VYM, against full books of 411 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for TIER (97.4% of the fund), and 14 for TIER that do not appear in VYM (4.3%).
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 TIER 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, TIER or VYM?
TIER has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TIER or VYM?
Over the past year TIER returned +22.71% vs +17.82% for VYM, so TIER leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), TIER annualized +23.71% vs +20.68% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TIER or VYM?
TIER has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 8.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: TIER -12.1% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both TIER and VYM?
TIER and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, TIER or VYM?
TIER yields 0.66% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TIER?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TIER led over 1Y and the full window. TIER is less concentrated, with 16.7% 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.