ETF Comparison

IDV vs VYMI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares International Select Dividend ETF and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

IDVInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
VYMIInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

IDV has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 32.44% total return against 33.21%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYMI has compounded at 10.88% a year, against 10.23% for IDV. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Mar 2016	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IDV	16.55%	32.44%	27.31%	13.64%	10.23%	11.03%	13.8%	1.43	2.05	-11.9%
VYMI	20.13%	33.21%	24.68%	14.26%	10.88%	11.56%	13.6%	1.29	1.88	-12.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Mar 2016” measures every fund from March 2, 2016 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	IDV	VYMI
Full name	iShares International Select Dividend ETF	Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
Underlying index	Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index	FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index
Last Close	$45.24 as of September 4, 2026	$107.03 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate	5.03%	4.70%
Distribution Safety Score™	89	88
Safety-Adjusted Yield	4.48%	4.14%
Expense ratio	0.50%	0.07%
AUM	$8.74B	$21.8B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Objective	Seeks to track the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, investing at least 80% of assets in 100 high dividend-paying companies across Europe, the Pacific, Asia and Canada.	Seeks to track the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, investing at least 80% of net assets in the international high-dividend stocks that make up the target index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	06/11/2007	02/25/2016
Beta	0.71	0.71
Last dividend	$1.102	$1.257
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/18/2026

Bottom lineIDV and VYMI are both for investors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: VYMI charges 0.07% against 0.50% for IDV, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

Model this comparison:

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares

ETFs466

Total AUM$4668B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IDV.

See all iShares ETFs

Vanguard

ETFs116

Total AUM$4654B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VYMI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Quick verdict

IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IDV offers the higher yield at 5.03% vs 4.70% for VYMI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VYMI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.07% compared to 0.50%.

They have different reference exposures: IDV is linked to Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index while VYMI is linked to FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VYMI is the larger fund by assets ($21.8B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Still deciding? Track IDV & VYMI for free

Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.

Add to my watchlist See what a free account includes

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IDV would generate roughly $41.92/month, while VYMI would produce $39.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IDV yield5.03%

VYMI yield4.70%

Monthly diff on $10K$2.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IDV would cost approximately $500 in fees vs $70 for VYMI (simplified, not compounded). The $430.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IDV ER0.50%

VYMI ER0.07%

Strategy & risk

IDV tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index.

IDV beta0.71

VYMI beta0.71

Fund details

IDV is managed by iShares (launched 06/11/2007) with $8.74B in assets. VYMI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $21.8B in assets.

IDV AUM$8.74B

VYMI AUM$21.8B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IDV and VYMI?

IDV currently distributes 5.03% and VYMI 4.70%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IDV or VYMI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IDV 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 IDV and VYMI?

IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, while VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both IDV and VYMI?

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.

Is IDV or VYMI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: IDV scores 89, VYMI scores 88. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IDV or VYMI?

IDV has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYMI charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IDV vs VYMI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IDV would generate roughly $41.92 per month ($503.00 annually). The same in VYMI would produce about $39.17 per month ($470.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IDV or VYMI?

More comparisons to explore

People also compare VYMI with

Popular comparisons

IDV vs VYMI — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

IDV and VYMI are both international dividend-focused ETFs tracking high-dividend equity indexes outside the United States. This difference produces divergent geographic weightings, sector tilts, and cost structures.

How they differ

The biggest difference is expense ratio: VYMI charges 0.07% versus IDV's 0.50%, a 43-basis-point gap that compounds significantly over time on a $100,000 investment. Second, VYMI is substantially larger at $21.8B in assets under management versus IDV's $8.74B, which typically translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and deeper trading liquidity. Third, IDV yields slightly higher at 5.03% compared to VYMI's 4.70%, though this modest 33-basis-point spread may narrow or reverse depending on dividend growth and index reconstitution; both distribute quarterly. Both share an identical 0.71 beta, indicating similar systematic market sensitivity.

Who each is best for

IDV: Fits investors who want exposure to a curated, narrower dividend-stock basket (100 holdings) and don't mind paying a moderate expense ratio for active index methodology. The Dow Jones selection process emphasizes dividend quality and sustainability over pure market-cap weighting.

VYMI: Designed for investors prioritizing cost efficiency and index breadth, accepting a larger and more market-weighted international dividend-stock universe in exchange for a significantly lower expense ratio and larger fund scale.

Key risks to know

Currency exposure: Both ETFs carry unhedged exposure to multiple foreign currencies (euro, pound, yen, Canadian dollar, among others), so USD strength can reduce returns independent of stock performance.

Geographic concentration: IDV's index construction focuses on 100 hand-picked stocks, creating the potential for style drift or sector concentration if the Dow Jones index tilts heavily toward particular geographies or industries; VYMI's broader approach spreads this risk across a larger universe.

Dividend sustainability: International dividend yields, especially at these levels, may reflect temporary payout cycles or unsustainable distributions in certain markets; neither fund guarantees that high-yielding stocks will maintain payouts through economic downturns.

Valuation and mean reversion: Dividend-yield screening systematically selects cheaper (higher-yielding) stocks; in periods of multiple expansion, these underperforming stocks may lag the broader market before reverting to yield.

Bottom line

If you prioritize low costs and index breadth with established scale, VYMI's 0.07% fee and $21.8B in assets offer a compelling case. If you prefer a more selective dividend-quality approach and don't mind 0.50% in fees, IDV's narrower index may appeal. Both carry identical beta and quarterly distributions; past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener