AGEM vs VYM
abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AGEM or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AGEM led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%.
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 | AGEM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $356M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.42% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 96 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +17.49%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +26.47%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.50%Best | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +31.50%Best | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.4% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $39,321Best | $17,241 |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.6% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 4, 1993 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 22, 2009 to Oct 14, 2026 (17.2 years).
AGEM vs VYM 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
AGEM vs VYM Performance
abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF (AGEM) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AGEM returned +26.47% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, AGEM is up 17.49% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, AGEM compounded at +31.50% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +31.50% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.69% annualized vs +5.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AGEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.4% compared with 13.1% 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 -33.5% for AGEM and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGEM charges 0.70% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $4 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGEM currently yields 2.42% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 87 holdings in AGEM and 602 in VYM, totalling 99.1% and 100.0% 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 87 positions we hold weights for in AGEM and 602 in VYM, against full books of 96 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 573 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AGEM (97.9% of the fund), and 6 for AGEM that do not appear in VYM (5.5%).
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 AGEM and VYM 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, AGEM or VYM?
AGEM has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGEM or VYM?
Over the past year AGEM returned +26.47% vs +15.96% for VYM, so AGEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), AGEM annualized +5.30% vs +10.69% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGEM or VYM?
AGEM has been the more volatile fund at 23.4% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AGEM -33.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both AGEM and VYM?
AGEM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, AGEM or VYM?
AGEM yields 2.42% while VYM yields 2.37%, so AGEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AGEM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AGEM led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.