A head-to-head comparison of WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
WisdomTree is known for offering diversified, thematically-focused ETFs that emphasize dividend income and factor-based strategies across multiple asset classes. The firm manages 28 funds spanning equities, fixed income, commodities, digital assets, and alternatives, with a particular strength in dividend and income-oriented products like its popular DGS (Emerging Markets High Dividend) and DGRW (Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth) funds. WisdomTree's lineup is characterized by its broad thematic approach, including exposure to megatrends and digital assets, alongside traditional dividend and factor-based equity strategies designed to appeal to income-focused investors.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DEM.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VWO.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Quick verdict
DEM (WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund) and VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
DEM offers the higher yield at 5.39% vs 0.48% for VWO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VWO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.63%.
VWO is the larger fund by assets ($119B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose DEM
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund
Want higher current income — DEM yields 5.39% vs 0.48% for VWO.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Choose VWO
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.63% for DEM.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, DEM would generate roughly $44.92/month, while VWO would produce $4.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
DEM yield5.39%
VWO yield0.48%
Monthly diff on $10K$40.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, DEM would cost approximately $630 in fees vs $60 for VWO (simplified, not compounded). The $570.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
DEM ER0.63%
VWO ER0.06%
Strategy & risk
DEM is an ETF, while VWO tracks FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index with an international approach. Beta is 0.73 for DEM and 0.78 for VWO, indicating DEM is less volatile relative to the market.
DEM beta0.73
VWO beta0.78
Fund details
DEM is managed by WisdomTree (launched 07/13/2007) with $4.02B in assets. VWO is managed by Vanguard (launched 03/04/2005) with $119B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DEM or VWO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DEM currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between DEM and VWO?
DEM (WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund) is an ETF, while VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) tracks FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index with an international approach. They are issued by WisdomTree and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both DEM and VWO?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, DEM or VWO?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VWO charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in DEM vs VWO generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in DEM would generate roughly $44.92 per month ($539.00 annually). The same in VWO would produce about $4.00 per month ($48.00 annually).
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
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