UAE vs VYM
iShares MSCI UAE ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, UAE 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 68.4%.
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 | UAE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $306M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.43% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 62 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +5.79% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.38% | +20.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.01% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.64% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -68.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,843 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.4% | 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 8, 2026 (12.4 years).
UAE 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.
UAE vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) 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 UAE returned +8.38% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, UAE is up 5.79% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, UAE compounded at +14.01% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.64% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.24% annualized vs -0.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UAE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% 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 -68.3% for UAE 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UAE charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UAE currently yields 4.43% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 57 holdings in UAE and 602 in VYM, totalling 100.1% 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 57 positions we hold weights for in UAE and 602 in VYM, against full books of 62 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 569 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for UAE (97.2% of the fund), and 1 for UAE that do not appear in VYM (0.1%).
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 UAE 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, UAE or VYM?
UAE has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UAE or VYM?
Over the past year UAE returned +8.38% vs +20.01% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), UAE annualized -0.26% vs +9.24% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UAE or VYM?
UAE has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 13.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: UAE -68.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both UAE and VYM?
UAE and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, UAE or VYM?
UAE yields 4.43% while VYM yields 2.24%, so UAE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than UAE?
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 68.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.