VYM vs WCMI
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs First Trust WCM International Equity ETF
Which is better, VYM or WCMI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Growth.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. WCMI led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
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 | WCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 0.55% |
| Holdings | 613 | 97 |
| YTD Return | +14.82% | +15.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.84% | +27.67%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.64% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.28% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5% | -12.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,425 | $14,505Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9%Best | 41.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.9 years).
VYM vs WCMI 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
VYM vs WCMI Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and First Trust WCM International Equity ETF (WCMI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year VYM returned +20.84% while WCMI returned +27.67%. Year to date, VYM is up 14.82% versus a gain of 15.34% for WCMI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WCMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 10.5% 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 -14.5% for VYM and -12.8% for WCMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while WCMI charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $85 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.24% against 0.55% for WCMI.
Holdings Overlap
0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings WCMI also owns. 4.7% of WCMI's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
WCMI and VYM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 44 in WCMI, against full books of 613 and 97.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 3 positions for WCMI that do not appear in our book for VYM (4.3% of the fund), and 567 for VYM that do not appear in WCMI (96.6%).
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 VYM and WCMI 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 WCMI?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while WCMI charges 0.85%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or WCMI?
Over the past year VYM returned +20.84% vs +27.67% for WCMI, so WCMI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VYM annualized +16.77% vs +21.62% for WCMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or WCMI?
WCMI has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 10.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs WCMI -12.8%.
Should I hold both VYM and WCMI?
VYM and WCMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 VYM and WCMI?
4.7% of WCMI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.7% of WCMI's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 44 in WCMI.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or WCMI?
VYM yields 2.24% while WCMI yields 0.55%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCMI better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. WCMI led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.