VYM vs VYMI
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VYM or VYMI?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over the full window, VYMI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VYMI is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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 | VYM | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $21.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 3.47% |
| Holdings | 613 | 1,576 |
| YTD Return | +14.33% | +19.20%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.01% | +30.21%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.43% | +24.08%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.16% | +14.34%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7%Best | -45.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,750 | $19,543Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9% | 13.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Feb 25, 2016 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 2, 2016 to Sep 8, 2026 (10.5 years).
VYM vs VYMI 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
VYM vs VYMI Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VYM returned +20.01% while VYMI returned +30.21%. Year to date, VYM is up 14.33% versus a gain of 19.20% for VYMI.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +18.43% per year against +24.08% for VYMI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.16% and +14.34% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.52% annualized vs +9.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 13.9% 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 -35.7% for VYM and -45.2% for VYMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while VYMI charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $7 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.24% against 3.47% for VYMI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings VYMI also owns. 0.1% of VYMI's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 1,509 in VYMI, against full books of 613 and 1,576.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 29 positions for VYMI that do not appear in our book for VYM (6.1% of the fund), and 568 for VYM that do not appear in VYMI (97.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VYM | Weight in VYMI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.15% | 0.11% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and VYMI 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, VYM or VYMI?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VYMI charges 0.07%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or VYMI?
Over the past year VYM returned +20.01% vs +30.21% for VYMI, so VYMI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), VYM annualized +10.52% vs +9.68% for VYMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or VYMI?
VYMI has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -35.7% vs VYMI -45.2%.
Should I hold both VYM and VYMI?
VYM and VYMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, VYM or VYMI?
VYM yields 2.24% while VYMI yields 3.47%, so VYMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYMI better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over the full window, VYMI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VYMI is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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.