VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L

Last updated Jul 18, 2026

VCPA.L (Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating) and HYEM.L (VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) are both exchange-traded funds - VCPA.L is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg US Corp Bond TR USD, while HYEM.L is a Emerging Markets Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofAML Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VCPA.L returned 0.76%/yr vs 3.24%/yr for HYEM.L. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VCPA.L charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for HYEM.L.

Performance

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating (VCPA.L) and VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HYEM.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VCPA.L is traded in GBP, while HYEM.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the HYEM.L values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VCPA.L achieves a 0.02% return, which is significantly lower than HYEM.L's 3.70% return.

VCPA.L

• 1D: 0.33%
• 1M: -1.02%
• 6M: -0.37%
• YTD: 0.02%
• 1Y: 4.16%
• 3Y*: 3.99%
• 5Y*: 0.76%
• 10Y*: —

HYEM.L

• 1D: 0.16%
• 1M: -1.50%
• 6M: 2.28%
• YTD: 3.70%
• 1Y: 7.64%
• 3Y*: 8.75%
• 5Y*: 3.24%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VCPA.L Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating	0.02%	0.42%	4.58%	2.12%	-4.89%	0.33%	5.37%	-15.43%
HYEM.L VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	3.70%	1.22%	13.85%	2.19%	-2.51%	0.29%	2.36%	6.57%

Correlation

The correlation between VCPA.L and HYEM.L is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.55
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.55
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.53
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 19, 2019	0.53

The correlation between VCPA.L and HYEM.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.53 to 0.55 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VCPA.L

VCPA.L Risk / Return Rank: 23
VCPA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 24
VCPA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 24
VCPA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 22
VCPA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
VCPA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 22

HYEM.L

HYEM.L Risk / Return Rank: 74
HYEM.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
HYEM.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
HYEM.L Omega Ratio Rank: 82
HYEM.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
HYEM.L Martin Ratio Rank: 75

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating (VCPA.L) and VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HYEM.L). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	VCPA.L	HYEM.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.69	1.00	-0.31
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.09	1.44	-0.35
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.12	1.18	-0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.89	1.87	-0.99
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.09	5.05	-2.96

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VCPA.L Sharpe Ratio is 0.69, which is lower than the HYEM.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.00. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VCPA.L and HYEM.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VCPA.L drawdown since its inception was -24.70%, which is greater than HYEM.L's maximum drawdown of -15.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCPA.L and HYEM.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VCPA.L	HYEM.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-24.70%	-15.44%	-9.26%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.67%	-4.06%	-0.61%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.09%	-9.01%	-11.08%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.09%	-13.20%	-6.89%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-12.56%	-2.02%	-10.54%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.95%	-3.64%	-10.31%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.98%	1.51%	+0.47%

Volatility

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating (VCPA.L) is 1.56%, while VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (HYEM.L) has a volatility of 1.87%. This indicates that VCPA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than HYEM.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VCPA.L	HYEM.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.56%	1.87%	-0.31%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.51%	5.88%	-1.37%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.08%	7.63%	-1.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.50%	9.99%	+6.51%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.17%	10.09%	+7.08%

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

VCPA.L has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than HYEM.L's 0.40% expense ratio.

Dividends

VCPA.L vs. HYEM.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither VCPA.L nor HYEM.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
HYEM.L VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.09%
VCPA.L Vanguard USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF Accumulating	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VCPA.L and HYEM.L in my portfolio?

VCPA.L and HYEM.L have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VCPA.L or HYEM.L?

On fees, VCPA.L is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VCPA.L or HYEM.L?

VCPA.L is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.40% for HYEM.L.

What is the main difference between VCPA.L and HYEM.L?

VCPA.L is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while HYEM.L is Emerging Markets Bonds. VCPA.L tracks Bloomberg US Corp Bond TR USD, while HYEM.L tracks ICE BofAML Diversified High Yield US Emerging Markets Corporate Plus Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VCPA.L and 0.40% for HYEM.L.