EPOL vs VYM
iShares MSCI Poland ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EPOL or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EPOL 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 66.2%.
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 | EPOL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $952M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.32% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 39 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +22.31%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +42.24%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +38.14%Best | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.16%Best | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,075Best | $17,241 |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.2% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 25, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.4 years).
EPOL 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 16.4 years both funds cover.
EPOL vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Poland ETF (EPOL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPOL returned +42.24% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, EPOL is up 22.31% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, EPOL compounded at +38.14% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +17.16% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.53% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPOL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.6% 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 -72.4% for EPOL 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPOL charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPOL currently yields 3.32% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 33 holdings in EPOL 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 33 positions we hold weights for in EPOL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 39 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 573 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EPOL (97.9% of the fund), and 2 for EPOL that do not appear in VYM (2.8%).
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 EPOL 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, EPOL or VYM?
EPOL has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPOL or VYM?
Over the past year EPOL returned +42.24% vs +15.96% for VYM, so EPOL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EPOL annualized +4.72% vs +10.53% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPOL or VYM?
EPOL has been the more volatile fund at 27.6% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EPOL -72.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EPOL and VYM?
EPOL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, EPOL or VYM?
EPOL yields 3.32% while VYM yields 2.37%, so EPOL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EPOL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EPOL 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 66.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.