What Is VYMI? Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Short answer
VYMI is a Vanguard index ETF that owns higher-yielding dividend stocks based outside the United States, spanning developed markets plus some emerging markets. Its yield is typically well above US-focused dividend funds, with a 30-day SEC yield often in the 4% to 5% range versus roughly 2.5% to 3% for a domestic fund like VYM. The tradeoff is exposure to international and currency risk, since holdings trade and distribute in foreign currencies. It differs from VYM, which holds US high-dividend stocks, and from iShares IDV, a smaller, more concentrated international dividend ETF with a higher fee.
VYMI is issued by Vanguard and tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. It charges a 0.07% expense ratio, holds approximately approximately $19.6 billion in assets under management, yields about approximately 4.5% (30-day SEC yield); trailing twelve-month distribution yield around 3.6% to 3.7%, and launched in February 25, 2016.
What is VYMI?
VYMI is a Vanguard index ETF that owns higher-yielding dividend stocks based outside the United States, spanning developed markets plus some emerging markets. Its yield is typically well above US-focused dividend funds, with a 30-day SEC yield often in the 4% to 5% range versus roughly 2.5% to 3% for a domestic fund like VYM. The tradeoff is exposure to international and currency risk, since holdings trade and distribute in foreign currencies. It differs from VYM, which holds US high-dividend stocks, and from iShares IDV, a smaller, more concentrated international dividend ETF with a higher fee.
VYMI is issued by Vanguard and tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, so a single ticker gives you the whole basket of underlying holdings weighted by the index's methodology rather than by any active stock-picking.
VYMI holdings: what's actually inside
VYMI is weighted toward its largest constituents. As of early 2026, the top holdings are:
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of VYMI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NVS | Novartis AG | approximately 1.7% | |
| 2 | HSBC | HSBC Holdings plc | approximately 1.6% | |
| 3 | RHHBY | Roche Holding AG | approximately 1.6% | |
| 4 | SHEL | Shell plc | approximately 1.5% | |
| 5 | NSRGY | Nestle SA | approximately 1.4% | |
| 6 | TM | Toyota Motor Corp | approximately 1.2% | |
| 7 | CMWAY | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | approximately 1.1% | |
| 8 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | approximately 1.0% | |
| 9 | TTE | TotalEnergies SE | approximately 1.0% | |
| 10 | ALIZY | Allianz SE | approximately 0.9% |
The remaining holdings make up the balance of the fund, with weights tapering off below the top names. Because the index reconstitutes on a rolling basis, the roster stays current without active management. Each ticker above links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
The bottom line on VYMI
VYMI offers broad, low-cost access to international high-dividend stocks with a yield that has historically run higher than comparable US dividend funds. Investors take on foreign-market and currency exposure in exchange for that income and geographic diversification.
More on VYMI
Whether VYMI is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is VYMI a buy?
VYMI yields approximately 4.5% (30-day SEC yield); trailing twelve-month distribution yield around 3.6% to 3.7% as of early 2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see VYMI dividend: yield and schedule.
Build a portfolio around VYMI with Walnut
Use VYMI as your core holding, then let Walnut's AI propose thematic satellites: AI infrastructure, dividend growth, clean energy, whatever you believe in. Connect your broker, build the basket in conversation, track it as one unit.
FAQ
What is VYMI?
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VYMI is the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF. It tracks the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, holding hundreds of higher-yielding dividend stocks based outside the United States across developed and emerging markets. It launched in 2016 and is designed for investors who want international equity income at a low cost.
What is VYMI's expense ratio?
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VYMI has an expense ratio of 0.07%, which works out to about $7 per year on a $10,000 investment. That is very low for an international equity fund and is one of the main reasons investors choose it over higher-cost alternatives such as iShares IDV.
VYMI vs VYM: what is the difference?
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Both are Vanguard high-dividend ETFs, but VYM holds US stocks while VYMI holds high-dividend stocks based outside the United States. VYMI usually carries a higher yield and adds international and currency exposure, while VYM is concentrated in US companies. Some investors hold both to cover domestic and international dividend payers.
What does VYMI hold?
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VYMI holds hundreds of large- and mid-cap dividend-paying companies domiciled outside the US, with top positions in names like Novartis, HSBC, Roche, Shell, Nestle, and Toyota. It is weighted toward financials, consumer staples, energy, healthcare, and materials, and spans developed markets such as the UK, Switzerland, Japan, and Australia plus some emerging markets.
What is VYMI's dividend yield?
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VYMI's 30-day SEC yield is often in the 4% to 5% range, with a trailing twelve-month distribution yield around 3.6% to 3.7%. That is generally higher than US-focused dividend funds. The exact figure changes with market prices and the underlying companies' payouts, so check Vanguard's site for the current number.
Is VYMI a good investment?
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Whether VYMI fits depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and need for international and income exposure. It offers a low fee, a high relative yield, and geographic diversification, but adds foreign-market and currency risk. Walnut is informational, not investment advice, so use this as a starting point for your own research.
How often does VYMI pay dividends and how are they taxed?
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VYMI pays dividends quarterly, and the amount can vary meaningfully each quarter because many international companies pay semiannual or annual dividends that cluster in certain periods. Distributions may include income subject to foreign withholding taxes; in taxable accounts holders may be able to claim a foreign tax credit. Tax treatment depends on your situation.
Does VYMI have currency risk?
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Yes. VYMI's holdings trade and pay dividends in foreign currencies, and the fund is unhedged, so returns measured in US dollars rise and fall with exchange rates. A stronger dollar can reduce reported returns and income even when the underlying stocks perform well, while a weaker dollar can add to them.
How do I compare VYMI to similar ETFs?
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Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. VYMI's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to early 2026; verify current figures against Vanguard's fund page or your broker before investing.