URTH vs VYM
iShares MSCI World ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, URTH or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. URTH led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 27.0%.
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 | URTH | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,310 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +11.10%Best | +9.22% |
| 1Y Return | +14.55%Best | +12.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.41%Best | +18.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.63%Best | +11.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,334Best | $17,149 |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.0% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.7 years).
URTH 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
URTH vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) 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 URTH returned +14.55% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, URTH is up 11.10% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Over three years, URTH compounded at +21.41% per year against +18.21% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.63% and +11.39% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, URTH has the edge at +10.64% annualized vs +9.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URTH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 13.0% 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 -34.0% for URTH 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URTH charges 0.24% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $4 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URTH currently yields 1.36% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
24.4% of URTH's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 89.1% of VYM's money is in holdings URTH also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside URTH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
233 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,310 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 298 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for URTH (8.3% of the fund), and 280 for URTH that do not appear in VYM (48.7%).
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 URTH | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.79% | 7.35% | 5.56% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.04% | 3.82% | 2.78% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.75% | 2.63% | 1.88% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.70% | 2.51% | 1.81% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.48% | 1.86% | 1.38% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.50% | 1.80% | 1.30% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.45% | 1.66% | 1.21% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.43% | 1.48% | 1.05% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.41% | 1.50% | 1.09% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.38% | 1.52% | 1.14% |
89.1% of VYM is already inside URTH.
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, URTH or VYM?
URTH has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URTH or VYM?
Over the past year URTH returned +14.55% vs +12.81% for VYM, so URTH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), URTH annualized +10.64% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTH or VYM?
URTH has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 13.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: URTH -34.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both URTH and VYM?
URTH and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between URTH and VYM?
89.1% of VYM's money is in holdings URTH also owns. 89.1% of VYM's is in holdings URTH also owns. They hold 233 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, URTH or VYM?
URTH yields 1.36% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than URTH?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. URTH led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 27.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.