VTIAX vs VYM
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VTIAX or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VTIAX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window.
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 | VTIAX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $104.7B | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 8,762 | 608 |
| YTD Price Return | +10.40%Best | +9.88% |
| 1Y Price Return | +15.17%Best | +13.19% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +16.54%Best | +15.41% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +5.33% | +8.34%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.4% | -17.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,965 | $14,926Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 29, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VTIAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. VTIAX yields 2.30% and VYM 2.37% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 15, 2021 to Oct 13, 2026 (5 years).
VTIAX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
VTIAX vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral (VTIAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VTIAX returned +15.17% while VYM returned +13.19%. Year to date, VTIAX is up 10.40% versus a gain of 9.88% for VYM.
Over three years, VTIAX compounded at +16.54% per year against +15.41% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.33% and +8.34% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTIAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 14.1% 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 -31.4% for VTIAX and -17.5% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTIAX charges 0.09% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $4 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTIAX currently yields 2.30% against 2.37% for VYM.
Structure and taxes
VTIAX is a mutual fund and VYM is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings VTIAX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTIAX, our book for it covers 90.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and VTIAX share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, VTIAX as of Jan 31, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 8,517 positions we hold weights for in VTIAX and 602 in VYM, against full books of 8,762 and 608.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTIAX | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORCLOracle Corp. | 0.01% | 1.03% | 1.02% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.00% | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.02% | 0.12% | 0.10% |
| BGBunge Global Sa Common Shares | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| 196170:KRAlteogen Inc | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTIAX 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, VTIAX or VYM?
VTIAX has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTIAX or VYM?
Over the past year VTIAX returned +15.17% vs +13.19% for VYM, so VTIAX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTIAX or VYM?
VTIAX has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 14.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VTIAX -31.4% vs VYM -17.5%.
Should I hold both VTIAX and VYM?
VTIAX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 VTIAX and VYM?
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings VTIAX also owns. Our book for VTIAX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 8,517 positions we hold weights for in VTIAX and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTIAX or VYM?
VTIAX yields 2.30% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTIAX or VYM in a taxable account?
VYM is an ETF and VTIAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VYM better than VTIAX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VTIAX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.