VYM vs WDEF
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, VYM or WDEF?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%.
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 | WDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $96M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 0.07% |
| Holdings | 613 | 49 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | -2.38% |
| 1Y Return | +15.42%Best | -9.50% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.78% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.05% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.9%Best | 31.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.7%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,081Best | $9,689 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1%Best | 64.3% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jul 17, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.2 years).
VYM vs WDEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
VYM vs WDEF Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF (WDEF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year VYM returned +15.42% while WDEF returned -9.50%. Year to date, VYM is up 10.96% versus a loss of 2.38% for WDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.4% compared with 9.9% 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 -6.7% for VYM and -23.9% for WDEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while WDEF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $45 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 0.07% for WDEF.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings WDEF 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 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 43 in WDEF, against full books of 613 and 49.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for WDEF that do not appear in our book for VYM (1.6% of the fund), and 527 for VYM that do not appear in WDEF (96.9%).
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 WDEF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRKroger Co. | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and WDEF 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 WDEF?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while WDEF charges 0.45%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or WDEF?
Over the past year VYM returned +15.42% vs -9.50% for WDEF, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VYM annualized +17.06% vs -2.60% for WDEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or WDEF?
WDEF has been the more volatile fund at 31.4% annualized versus 9.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -6.7% vs WDEF -23.9%.
Should I hold both VYM and WDEF?
VYM and WDEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 WDEF?
VYM yields 2.22% while WDEF yields 0.07%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDEF better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.