AAVM vs VYM
Alpha Architect Global Factor Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AAVM or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AAVM led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAVM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $27M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 6 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.93%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +20.62%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.11%Best | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.46% | +12.05%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.7%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,675 | $17,663Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 2, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 3, 2017 to Sep 22, 2026 (9.4 years).
AAVM vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 9.4 years both funds cover.
AAVM vs VYM Performance
Alpha Architect Global Factor Equity ETF (AAVM) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAVM returned +20.62% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, AAVM is up 13.93% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, AAVM compounded at +18.11% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +6.46% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.79% annualized vs +5.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 12.8% for AAVM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -34.7% for AAVM and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAVM charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAVM currently yields 1.76% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 5 holdings in AAVM and 557 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 5 positions we hold weights for in AAVM and 557 in VYM, against full books of 6 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AAVM (97.1% of the fund), and 5 for AAVM that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAVM and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAVM or VYM?
AAVM has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAVM or VYM?
Over the past year AAVM returned +20.62% vs +15.42% for VYM, so AAVM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), AAVM annualized +5.04% vs +9.79% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAVM or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 12.8% for AAVM. Worst drawdown: AAVM -34.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both AAVM and VYM?
AAVM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAVM or VYM?
AAVM yields 1.76% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AAVM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AAVM led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.