VYM vs XCNY
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ex-China ETF
Which is better, VYM or XCNY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. XCNY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 29.6%.
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 | XCNY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.19% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $10M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 2.31% |
| Holdings | 613 | 1,234 |
| YTD Return | +13.75% | +20.85%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.42% | +31.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.22% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.17% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -18.9% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $13,708 | $14,386Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9%Best | 29.6% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Sep 4, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2024 to Sep 9, 2026 (2 years).
VYM vs XCNY 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 2 years both funds cover.
VYM vs XCNY Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (XCNY) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year VYM returned +19.42% while XCNY returned +31.73%. Year to date, VYM is up 13.75% versus a gain of 20.85% for XCNY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XCNY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 10.4% 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 -18.9% for XCNY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XCNY charges 0.19%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $19 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 2.31% for XCNY.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of VYM's money is in holdings XCNY also owns. 1.3% of XCNY's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
VYM and XCNY share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 1,194 in XCNY, against full books of 613 and 1,234.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 16 positions for XCNY that do not appear in our book for VYM (1.0% of the fund), and 564 for VYM that do not appear in XCNY (96.0%).
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 XCNY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.42% | 0.00% | 1.42% |
| BAP:BMCredicorp Ltd | 0.11% | 0.59% | 0.48% |
| SCCOSouthern Copper Corp | 0.07% | 0.31% | 0.24% |
| HAL:MBHindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 0.12% | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| BHEBenchmark Electronics Inc | 0.01% | 0.20% | 0.19% |
| SBLK:MHStar Bulk Carriers Corp | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| PAGSPagseguro Digital Ltd | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and XCNY 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 XCNY?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XCNY charges 0.19%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or XCNY?
Over the past year VYM returned +19.42% vs +31.73% for XCNY, so XCNY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VYM annualized +17.08% vs +19.94% for XCNY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or XCNY?
XCNY has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 10.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs XCNY -18.9%.
Should I hold both VYM and XCNY?
VYM and XCNY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 XCNY?
1.8% of VYM's money is in holdings XCNY also owns. 1.3% of XCNY's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 1,194 in XCNY.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XCNY?
VYM yields 2.22% while XCNY yields 2.31%, so XCNY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XCNY better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. XCNY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 29.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.