HDEF vs VYMI: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF

HDEFANYSE Arca

Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF

VYMIANasdaq

Overlap

22.8%by weight

Expense ratio

VYMI −0.02pt a year

HDEF0.09%VYMI0.07%

Avg volume · 30D

VYMI 5.5×the volume

HDEF156KVYMI849K

10Y return · a year

VYMI +1.6pt

HDEF+9.0%VYMI+10.6%

HDEF vs VYMI Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+85.4%HDEF+86.9%VYMI

Expense ratio: HDEF 0.09%; VYMI 0.07%, better
Fund size: HDEF $2.36B; VYMI $22.3B
1Y total return: HDEF +21.8%; VYMI +23.7%, better
Yield (12M): HDEF 3.69%, better; VYMI 3.67%
Holdings: HDEF 112; VYMI 1532
Avg volume (30D): HDEF 156K sh; VYMI 849K sh, better
NAV per share: HDEF $34.42; VYMI $101.09
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for HDEF, VYMI, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	HDEF	VYMI
Cost30% weight	A90	A97Higher
Mission25% weight	A82	A100Higher
Risk15% weight	B68Higher	B59
Tradability15% weight	A82Higher	B61
Holdings10% weight	D30	A81Higher
Durability5% weight	B66	A89Higher

Rank among International Dividend Index funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. HDEF and VYMI are both graded against the same 34 International Dividend Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

International Dividend Index⁠

Category · 34 funds

See all 34 ›

VYMI ranks 1st and HDEF 5th of 34 funds in the International Dividend Index Category.

Rank 1AVYMIVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETFScore 84
Rank 2ADIVIFranklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETFScore 78
Rank 3ASCHYSchwab International Dividend Equity ETFScore 77
Rank 5AHDEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETFScore 76
Rank 6AFIDIFidelity International High Dividend ETFScore 75

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

HDEFAXtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF

VYMIAVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF

In short

HDEF Its cohort manufactures income with options overlays. HDEF skips the machinery: roughly 120 higher-yielding developed-market stocks, tracked passively, for nine basis points.

VYMI Most international dividend funds hold a hundred-odd developed-market names. VYMI casts a far wider net: roughly 1,600 high-yielders across developed and emerging markets outside the US, at seven basis points.

Stated mandate

HDEF The Fund uses a passive indexing approach to track the MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Index before fees and expenses.

VYMI VYMI seeks to track the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index through passive sampling, targeting international stocks forecast to have above-average dividend yields.

Why people hold it

HDEF Nine basis points. The overlay funds it sits beside run 0.42% (EFAA) to 0.83% (OVF), against a peer-group median near half a percent.
Income comes from dividends the companies declare, not from selling calls, so no written option sits on the upside. Distributions arrive quarterly.
The index screens for quality alongside yield, so a name has to clear more than a big payout number to get in.
Live since 2015 and now a billion-dollar-plus fund, following the same MSCI index the whole way rather than rebuilding the strategy.

VYMI 0.07% a year, a fraction of the typical international dividend fund's fee and a shade under screened rivals like SCHY (0.08%) and IGRO (0.15%).
Roughly 1,600 stocks across developed and emerging markets ex-US, so no single name, sector or country carries the income load.vanguard.com
Samples the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and has stayed unusually close to it, among the tightest trackers in its peer group.
Live since 2016, now a multi-billion-dollar fund that trades actively, and it pays out quarterly.

Worth knowing

HDEF No currency hedge in the mandate: euro, yen and pound moves against the dollar land in returns right alongside the stocks.
Yield screening cuts a broad developed-markets universe down to roughly 120 names, so this is a slice of EAFE, not the full field.
Moderately traded rather than a headline ticker, so spreads can widen in quiet stretches. Limit orders are the usual answer.

VYMI No currency hedge. Dividends and prices arrive in foreign currencies, and exchange-rate swings show up in dollar results either way.vanguard.com
The emerging-market sleeve adds political, liquidity and currency risk that developed-only dividend funds sidestep.vanguard.com
Screening on forecast yield tilts toward value and cyclical names, a different ride than dividend-growth peers like VIGI and IGRO.

Full HDEF profile⁠

Full VYMI profile⁠

HDEF vs VYMI Holdings

How HDEF and VYMI differ

Overlap by weight

22.8%

Shared holdings make up 97.6% of HDEF and 22.8% of VYMI.

Level by level

Holdings107 in both22.8%
Countryby domicile56.0%
Sector11 Sectors69.9%
Asset classEquity100%

Sector

Sector weights in HDEF and VYMI, widest gap first
Sector	More in HDEFMore in VYMI	HDEF	VYMI
Financials	VYMI +17.1 points	27.3%	44.4%
Consumer Staples	HDEF +13.0 points	19.4%	6.4%
Health Care	HDEF +9.9 points	16.3%	6.3%
Materials	VYMI +5.9 points	0.5%	6.4%
Technology	VYMI +4.9 points	0.6%	5.5%
Energy	HDEF +3.9 points	12.9%	9.0%
Utilities	HDEF +2.6 points	7.7%	5.0%
Consumer Discretionary	VYMI +2.0 points	3.8%	5.8%
Industrials	HDEF +0.7 points	7.0%	6.3%
Real Estate	VYMI +0.3 points	0.8%	1.1%
Communication	VYMI +0.1 points	3.6%	3.7%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in HDEF and VYMI, widest gap first
Country	More in HDEFMore in VYMI	HDEF	VYMI
Switzerland	HDEF +13.7 points	20.7%	7.0%
Canada	VYMI +8.8 points	0.0%	8.8%
France	HDEF +7.6 points	12.7%	5.0%
United Kingdom	HDEF +7.6 points	18.6%	11.0%
Taiwan	VYMI +6.0 points	0.0%	6.0%
China	VYMI +5.8 points	0.0%	5.8%
Germany	HDEF +5.0 points	9.3%	4.3%
Saudi Arabia	VYMI +4.6 points	0.0%	4.6%
Other countries (30)	VYMI +8.6 points	38.8%	47.4%

Outside the US: HDEF 98% developed, 2% emerging. VYMI 74% developed, 26% emerging.

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

HDEF42.4%
VYMI13.8%

Securities held

HDEF111
VYMI1,496

Asset class

HDEF: Equity
VYMI: Equity

Holdings

Only in HDEF4
In both107
Only in VYMI1,389

Only in HDEF

4 securities, 1.6% of HDEF by weight

3i Group PLC0.73%
AIB Group PLC0.58%
Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG0.13%
HKT Trust & HKT Ltd-SS0.12%

Only in VYMI

1,389 securities, 76.7% of VYMI by weight

HSBC Holdings PLC1.81%
Royal Bank of Canada1.47%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc1.35%
MediaTek Inc1.21%
BHP Group Ltd1.15%
Banco Santander SA1.07%
Toronto-Dominion Bank/The1.04%
Toyota Motor Corp1.03%
Commonwealth Bank of Australia0.93%
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc0.85%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA0.84%
UBS Group AG0.79%
UniCredit SpA0.71%
Mizuho Financial Group Inc0.70%
SLBBH11420.68%
Bank of Montreal0.63%
Bp PLC0.61%
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA0.61%
Bank of Nova Scotia/The0.60%
China Construction Bank Corp0.59%
BNP Paribas SA0.56%
Enbridge Inc0.55%
ING Groep NV0.55%
Deutsche Telekom AG0.54%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce0.54%
Rio Tinto PLC0.52%
Gsk PLC0.51%
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd0.51%
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd0.51%
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc0.50%
National Australia Bank Ltd0.45%
Westpac Banking Corp0.44%
Lloyds Banking Group PLC0.44%
Barclays PLC0.44%
Suncor Energy Inc0.43%
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd0.43%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd0.42%
Enel SpA0.40%
Glencore PLC0.40%
NatWest Group PLC0.39%
Manulife Financial Corp0.38%
Industria de Diseno Textil SA0.36%
ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd0.36%
Nordea Bank Abp0.34%
Deutsche Bank AG0.33%
CSL Ltd0.33%
TC Energy Corp0.32%
Wesfarmers Ltd0.32%
Macquarie Group Ltd0.32%
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd0.31%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 107 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in HDEF and VYMI, widest gap first
Holding	More in HDEFMore in VYMI	HDEF	VYMI
Shell PLCSHEL.L	HDEF +4.47 points	5.95%	1.48%
Roche Holding AG Part	HDEF +3.96 points	5.52%	1.56%
Novartis AG-Reg	HDEF +3.65 points	5.07%	1.42%
Nestle SA-Reg	HDEF +3.53 points	4.78%	1.25%
Total SA	HDEF +3.34 points	4.26%	0.92%
Allianz SE-Reg	HDEF +3.33 points	4.29%	0.96%
Iberdrola SA	HDEF +2.70 points	3.54%	0.84%
Unilever PLC NpvULVR.L	HDEF +2.56 points	3.24%	0.68%
Novo-Nordisk B	HDEF +2.30 points	2.95%	0.65%
British American Tobacco PLCBATS.L	HDEF +2.25 points	2.84%	0.59%
DBS Group Holdings Ltd	HDEF +2.06 points	2.72%	0.66%
Zurich Insurance Group AG	HDEF +2.05 points	2.58%	0.53%
Sanofi-Aventis	HDEF +1.77 points	2.24%	0.47%
National Grid PLCNG.L	HDEF +1.52 points	1.93%	0.41%
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Reg	HDEF +1.47 points	1.85%	0.38%
Axa SA	HDEF +1.30 points	1.72%	0.42%
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp	HDEF +1.30 points	1.73%	0.43%
Deutsche Post AG-REG	HDEF +1.07 points	1.39%	0.32%
Swiss Re AG	HDEF +1.02 points	1.28%	0.26%
Vinci SA	HDEF +1.00 points	1.31%	0.31%
Diageo PLCDGE.L	HDEF +0.95 points	1.21%	0.26%
Japan Tobacco Inc	HDEF +0.91 points	1.17%	0.26%
Volvo AB-B SHS	HDEF +0.86 points	1.13%	0.27%
Tesco PLCTSCO.L	HDEF +0.84 points	1.05%	0.20%
Danone SA	HDEF +0.84 points	1.06%	0.22%
Reckitt Benck Grp 10.416667PRKT.L	HDEF +0.83 points	1.06%	0.23%
Softbank Corp	HDEF +0.76 points	0.99%	0.23%
Honda Motor Co Ltd	HDEF +0.74 points	0.95%	0.21%
Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc	HDEF +0.69 points	0.91%	0.22%
United Overseas Bank Ltd	HDEF +0.68 points	0.90%	0.21%
Repsol SA	HDEF +0.67 points	0.87%	0.20%
Equinor ASA	HDEF +0.60 points	0.73%	0.13%
Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM	HDEF +0.59 points	0.78%	0.19%
Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV	HDEF +0.57 points	0.74%	0.17%
Komatsu Ltd	HDEF +0.55 points	0.78%	0.23%
Assicurazioni Generali SpA	HDEF +0.54 points	0.79%	0.25%
Imperial Brands PLCIMB.L	HDEF +0.53 points	0.66%	0.13%
Bank Hapoalim BM	HDEF +0.53 points	0.70%	0.17%
Qbe Insurance Group Ltd	HDEF +0.51 points	0.64%	0.13%
Astellas Pharma Inc	HDEF +0.51 points	0.65%	0.14%
Publicis Groupe SA	HDEF +0.46 points	0.59%	0.13%
Canon Inc	HDEF +0.42 points	0.55%	0.13%
Singapore Telecom	HDEF +0.42 points	0.55%	0.13%
Swisscom AG	HDEF +0.41 points	0.51%	0.10%
NN Group NV	HDEF +0.41 points	0.53%	0.12%
Sgs SA	HDEF +0.39 points	0.49%	0.10%
Santos Ltd	HDEF +0.39 points	0.49%	0.10%
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA	HDEF +0.38 points	0.51%	0.13%
Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag	HDEF +0.37 points	0.48%	0.11%
Hannover Rueck SE	HDEF +0.36 points	0.45%	0.09%
Coles Group Ltd	HDEF +0.35 points	0.47%	0.12%
Kone OYJ-B	HDEF +0.35 points	0.45%	0.10%
Koninklijke KPN NV	HDEF +0.34 points	0.43%	0.09%
Denso Corp	HDEF +0.32 points	0.43%	0.11%
Partners Group Holding AG	HDEF +0.30 points	0.38%	0.08%
CLP Holdings Ltd	HDEF +0.30 points	0.38%	0.08%
Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd	HDEF +0.28 points	0.37%	0.09%
Pernod Ricard SA	HDEF +0.27 points	0.34%	0.07%
Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale	HDEF +0.27 points	0.35%	0.08%
Suncorp Group Ltd	HDEF +0.26 points	0.34%	0.08%
Snam SpA	HDEF +0.25 points	0.32%	0.07%
Aker BP ASA	HDEF +0.25 points	0.31%	0.06%
Insurance Australia Group Ltd	HDEF +0.25 points	0.32%	0.07%
FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA	HDEF +0.25 points	0.33%	0.08%
Telstra Corp Ltd	HDEF +0.24 points	0.31%	0.07%
ASR Nederland NV	HDEF +0.24 points	0.31%	0.07%
Gas Natural Sdg SA	HDEF +0.24 points	0.32%	0.08%
Sekisui House Ltd	HDEF +0.23 points	0.30%	0.07%
UPM-Kymmene OYJ	HDEF +0.23 points	0.31%	0.08%
Omv AG	HDEF +0.23 points	0.29%	0.06%
Israel Discount Bank-A	HDEF +0.23 points	0.30%	0.07%
Ageas	HDEF +0.21 points	0.28%	0.07%
Unipol Gruppo Finanziario SpA	HDEF +0.21 points	0.27%	0.06%
Power Assets Holdings Ltd	HDEF +0.20 points	0.26%	0.06%
Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd	HDEF +0.19 points	0.25%	0.06%
Hong Kong & China Gas Co Ltd	HDEF +0.19 points	0.24%	0.05%
Bouygues SA	HDEF +0.19 points	0.24%	0.05%
Medibank Pvt Ltd	HDEF +0.18 points	0.23%	0.05%
Skanska AB-B SHS	HDEF +0.17 points	0.22%	0.05%
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings	HDEF +0.16 points	0.21%	0.05%
Subaru Corp	HDEF +0.15 points	0.20%	0.05%
Eisai Co Ltd	HDEF +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Sitc Intl Holdings	HDEF +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Brenntag AG	HDEF +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Continental AG	HDEF +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Orkla ASA	HDEF +0.15 points	0.18%	0.03%
Kingfisher PLCKGF.L	HDEF +0.14 points	0.18%	0.04%
Hennes & Mauritz AB-B SHS	HDEF +0.14 points	0.18%	0.04%
Kesko OYJ-B SHS	HDEF +0.13 points	0.17%	0.04%
Tryg A/S	HDEF +0.14 points	0.17%	0.03%
Isuzu Motors Ltd	HDEF +0.12 points	0.16%	0.04%
Amundi SA	HDEF +0.12 points	0.15%	0.03%
Asahi Glass Co Ltd	HDEF +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
WH Group Ltd	HDEF +0.11 points	0.14%	0.03%
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA	HDEF +0.10 points	0.13%	0.03%
Daito Trust Construction Co Ltd	HDEF +0.10 points	0.13%	0.03%
Sodexo SA	HDEF +0.10 points	0.12%	0.02%
CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd	HDEF +0.09 points	0.12%	0.03%
Verbund	HDEF +0.09 points	0.12%	0.03%
Elisa Oyj	HDEF +0.09 points	0.12%	0.03%

All 120 HDEF holdings⁠All 1,561 VYMI holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

HDEF vs VYMI Cost

Overpaying HDEF vs VYMI

$418

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

HDEF 0.09%
$1,898
VYMI 0.07%
$1,480

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

HDEF 0.09%
VYMI 0.07%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	HDEF	VYMI	Overpaying
10	$165	$128	$37
20	$646	$503	$143
30	$1,898	$1,480	$418

Expense ratio

0.09%HDEF
0.07%VYMI, cheaper

VYMI0.07%HDEF0.09%

0.07%0.60%

Middle half of International Dividend Index funds
Median 0.49%

VYMI cheapest of 34 funds

HDEF 4th cheapest of 34 funds

HDEF vs VYMI Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026

Yield (12M): HDEF 3.69%, better; VYMI 3.67%
Payout (12M): HDEF $1.27; VYMI $3.72
Last payment: HDEF $0.23; VYMI $0.82
Ex-dividend: HDEF Sep 18, 2026; VYMI Sep 18, 2026
Paid on: HDEF Sep 25, 2026; VYMI Sep 22, 2026
Frequency: HDEF Quarterly; VYMI Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

HDEFQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll HDEF payments⁠

VYMIQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll VYMI payments⁠

HDEF vs VYMI Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

HDEF
VYMI

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: HDEF 11.8%VYMI 10.5%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: HDEF 1.31VYMI 1.71, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: HDEF −23.7%, betterVYMI −24.1%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: HDEF 0.68VYMI 0.74; Market = 1

HDEF and VYMI in the news

All news⁠

Best ETFs
Schwab's dividend ETF returned 22.8% in a year. Its income rate still trails a one-month bill.
Updated Oct 2, 2026VYMI

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HDEF vs VYMI

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it

Worth knowing

How HDEF and VYMI differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in HDEF

Only in VYMI

Weight gaps

Cost over time

Year by year

Distribution history

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

Schwab's dividend ETF returned 22.8% in a year. Its income rate still trails a one-month bill.

How HDEF and VYMI differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in HDEF

Only in VYMI

Weight gaps