VPL vs VYM
Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VPL or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VPL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | VPL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 2,342 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +26.35%Best | +9.59% |
| 1Y Return | +35.30%Best | +13.66% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.85%Best | +17.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.59% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.5%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,542 | $17,241Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.5%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 4, 2005 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 28, 2026 (19.9 years).
VPL 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
VPL vs VYM Performance
Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VPL returned +35.30% while VYM returned +13.66%. Year to date, VPL is up 26.35% versus a gain of 9.59% for VYM.
Over three years, VPL compounded at +23.85% per year against +17.87% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.59% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.73% annualized vs +6.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VPL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.6% 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 -55.5% for VPL and -58.8% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VPL charges 0.07% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $4 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VPL currently yields 2.61% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VPL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings VPL 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 2,313 positions we hold weights for in VPL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 2,342 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for VPL (97.0% of the fund), and 5 for VPL that do not appear in VYM (0.3%).
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 VPL 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, VPL or VYM?
VPL has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VPL or VYM?
Over the past year VPL returned +35.30% vs +13.66% for VYM, so VPL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VPL annualized +6.15% vs +6.73% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VPL or VYM?
VPL has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VPL -55.5% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both VPL and VYM?
VPL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, VPL or VYM?
VPL yields 2.61% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VPL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VPL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VPL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.