Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: IDV is ratedTier 2 (Yield Plus)while VYMI is ratedTier 1 (Cornerstone).VYMI is structurally lower risk than IDV.
| Metric | IDV | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 48.77% | 35.62% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 43.10% | 32.64% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.47% | -31.68% |
| Beta | - | - |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
International dividend investing promises geographic diversification and access to higher structural yields than the US market typically offers. IDV (iShares International Select Dividend) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield) both target this opportunity, but they arrive via opposite philosophies. IDV hunts yield aggressively with ~100 concentrated picks; VYMI casts a wide net across 1,000+ international dividend payers. The 170bps yield gap (5.64% vs 3.94%) is real — but so is the tradeoff.
IDV tracks the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index — a yield-ranked selection of the top dividend payers in developed international markets outside North America. This produces a concentrated, high-yield portfolio that skews toward slower-growth markets (UK, Australia, Europe) where dividend cultures are strong. VYMI tracks the FTSE All-World ex-US High Dividend Yield Index, which starts with a quality screen and then filters for above-average yield. The result is better diversification across geographies and sectors, but at the cost of 170bps of annual income.
IDV's concentrated approach means country-specific crises hit harder. A UK banking sector stress event, for example, could meaningfully impact IDV given its heavy UK/European financials exposure. VYMI's 1,000+ holdings spread exposure across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and emerging markets more evenly. For investors who've watched single-country implosions devastate concentrated funds, VYMI's diversification is the more sleep-easy option.
The highest-yielding stocks in any index deserve extra scrutiny — high yield sometimes signals a stock's price has fallen because the market anticipates a dividend cut. IDV's yield-first methodology accepts this risk in exchange for higher current income. VYMI's quality screen filters more aggressively for dividend sustainability. Historical data shows VYMI has experienced fewer significant distribution cuts during global market stress periods, making it more reliable for income-dependent investors.
Choose IDV if:
Choose VYMI if:
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