TOK vs VYM
iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TOK or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TOK led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 27.5%.
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 | TOK | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $246M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,136 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.81% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.09% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.98%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.45% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,195 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.7 years).
TOK 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.
TOK vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF (TOK) 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 TOK returned +17.09% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, TOK is up 10.81% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, TOK compounded at +19.98% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.45% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.07% annualized vs +6.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TOK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% 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 -56.6% for TOK and -56.5% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TOK charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TOK currently yields 1.27% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
24.8% of TOK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 85.0% of VYM's money is in holdings TOK also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside TOK. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
203 positions in common, counted across the 892 positions we hold weights for in TOK and 603 in VYM, against full books of 1,136 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 370 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for TOK (14.0% of the fund), and 255 for TOK that do not appear in VYM (50.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TOK | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.98% | 7.29% | 5.31% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.07% | 3.38% | 2.31% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.74% | 2.54% | 1.80% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.67% | 2.36% | 1.69% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.53% | 2.01% | 1.48% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.53% | 1.93% | 1.40% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.53% | 1.85% | 1.32% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 0.48% | 1.56% | 1.08% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.45% | 1.56% | 1.11% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.41% | 1.46% | 1.05% |
85.0% of VYM is already inside TOK.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, TOK or VYM?
TOK has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TOK or VYM?
Over the past year TOK returned +17.09% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), TOK annualized +6.80% vs +7.07% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TOK or VYM?
TOK has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: TOK -56.6% vs VYM -56.5%.
Should I hold both TOK and VYM?
TOK and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between TOK and VYM?
85.0% of VYM's money is in holdings TOK also owns. 85.0% of VYM's is in holdings TOK also owns. They hold 203 positions in common, counted across the 892 positions we hold weights for in TOK and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, TOK or VYM?
TOK yields 1.27% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TOK?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TOK led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 27.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.