VDG vs VYM
Vanguard Developed Markets ex-US Growth Index ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VDG or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VDG is less concentrated, with 21.8% 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 | VDG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $32M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 647 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +9.09% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.8%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
VDG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
VDG vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Developed Markets ex-US Growth Index ETF (VDG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, VDG is up 9.09% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VDG charges 0.08% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $4 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VDG currently yields 0.32% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VDG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.4% of VYM's money is in holdings VDG also owns.
VYM and VDG share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 613 positions we hold weights for in VDG and 602 in VYM, against full books of 647 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for VDG (95.8% of the fund), and 21 for VDG that do not appear in VYM (7.4%).
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 VDG 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, VDG or VYM?
VDG has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between VDG and VYM?
1.4% of VYM's money is in holdings VDG also owns. 1.4% of VYM's is in holdings VDG also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 613 positions we hold weights for in VDG and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VDG or VYM?
VDG yields 0.32% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VDG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VDG is less concentrated, with 21.8% 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.