VYM vs XEML
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Xtrackers Europe Market Leaders ETF
Which is better, VYM or XEML?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | XEML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 1.77% |
| Holdings | 613 | 42 |
| YTD Return | +13.91%Best | -1.37% |
| 1Y Return | +17.57% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.12% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.17% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9%Best | 45.7% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Xtrackers ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Dec 23, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
VYM vs XEML 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
VYM vs XEML Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Xtrackers Europe Market Leaders ETF (XEML) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs. Year to date, VYM is up 13.91% versus a loss of 1.37% for XEML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XEML charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $35 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 1.77% for XEML.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 603 holdings in VYM and 41 in XEML, totalling 99.5% and 97.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 41 in XEML, against full books of 613 and 42.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for XEML that do not appear in our book for VYM (0.0% of the fund), and 568 for VYM that do not appear in XEML (97.5%).
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 XEML 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 XEML?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XEML charges 0.35%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XEML?
VYM yields 2.22% while XEML yields 1.77%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XEML better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.