A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYMI) and First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund (FDT) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | VYMI | FDT |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +0.58%✓ | -4.76% |
| 1-Day Change | -1.30% | -0.44%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -2.31% | -0.97%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -5.12% | -2.12%✓ |
| Current Price | $99.82 | $93.28 |
| AUM | $21.71B✓ | $1.37B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.07%✓ | 0.8% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.43%✓ | 2.71% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2016-02-25 | 2011-04-18 |
| Holdings Count | 1512 | 49 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Category | Foreign Large Value | Foreign Large Value |
| Beta | 0.71 | 1.12 |
| 52-Week High | $106.45 | $99.93 |
| 52-Week Low | $79.72 | $71.23 |
| 50-Day MA | $104.16 | $94.33 |
| 200-Day MA | $98.55 | $91.77 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VYMI | FDT |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +0.58%✓ | -4.76% |
| 1 Year | +28.37% | +32.02%✓ |
| 3 Year | +23.30% | +27.69%✓ |
| 5 Year | +14.13%✓ | +12.53% |
| 10 Year | +10.72%✓ | +9.93% |
| 1Y Volatility | 12.18% | 23.29% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.62 | 1.26 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | HSBA | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.89% |
| 2 | ROP | Roche Holding AG | 1.59% |
| 3 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | 1.51% |
| 4 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.51% |
| 5 | NESN | Nestle S.A. | 1.33% |
| 6 | SHEL | Shell plc | 1.33% |
| 7 | 8306 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 1.26% |
| 8 | BHP | BHP Group Ltd | 1.11% |
| 9 | CBA | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | 1.08% |
| 10 | SAN | Banco Santander S.A. | 1.06% |
| 1 | 009150 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics | 1.63% |
| 2 | 402340 | SK Square Co Ltd | 1.05% |
| 3 | 1888 | Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd | 0.98% |
| 4 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 0.97% |
| 5 | 9984 | Softbank Group Corp. | 0.88% |
| 6 | 011070 | LG Innotek Co Ltd | 0.87% |
| 7 | MOH | Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A | 0.87% |
| 8 | 6448 | Brother Industries Ltd | 0.82% |
| 9 | 0148 | Kingboard Holdings Ltd | 0.80% |
| 10 | 000150 | Doosan Corp. | 0.77% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VYMI | FDT |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 6.75% | 9.21% |
| Communication Services | 3.71% | 2.73% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 6.21% | 10.76% |
| Consumer Defensive | 6.52% | 2.60% |
| Energy | 8.80% | 9.16% |
| Financial Services | 44.05% | 11.05% |
| Healthcare | 6.43% | 1.34% |
| Industrials | 6.36% | 32.98% |
| Real Estate | 1.08% | 4.53% |
| Technology | 5.05% | 10.73% |
| Utilities | 5.04% | 4.91% |
About VYMI
Under normal circumstances,the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets,plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes,in the stocks that make up the target index.
About FDT
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index. The index is designed to select stocks from the NASDAQ Developed Markets Ex-US Index that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both VYMI and FDT are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, VYMI scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between VYMI and FDT?
VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) and FDT (First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($21.71B vs $1.37B), dividend yield (3.43% vs 2.71%), and year-to-date performance (+0.58% vs -4.76%).
Is VYMI better than FDT?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, VYMI has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy VYMI and FDT on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VYMI and FDT should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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