ABLS vs VYM
Abacus FCF Small Cap Leaders ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ABLS or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%.
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 | ABLS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $460,516.49 | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 49 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.33% | +15.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.86% | +22.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 9.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,161 | $12,608Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.2% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Abacus FCF Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 18, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 19, 2025 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.5 years).
ABLS 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
ABLS vs VYM Performance
Abacus FCF Small Cap Leaders ETF (ABLS) is an ETF from Abacus FCF Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ABLS returned +6.86% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, ABLS is up 12.33% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ABLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 9.8% for VYM. 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 -19.3% for ABLS and -14.5% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ABLS charges 0.39% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $4 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ABLS currently yields 0.96% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
13.8% of ABLS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings ABLS also owns.
ABLS and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ABLS as of Aug 17, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in ABLS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 49 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 565 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ABLS (97.4% of the fund), and 40 for ABLS that do not appear in VYM (82.5%).
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 ABLS 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, ABLS or VYM?
ABLS has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ABLS or VYM?
Over the past year ABLS returned +6.86% vs +22.23% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ABLS annualized +1.07% vs +16.71% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ABLS or VYM?
ABLS has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 9.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ABLS -19.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both ABLS and VYM?
ABLS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ABLS and VYM?
13.8% of ABLS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings ABLS also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in ABLS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ABLS or VYM?
ABLS yields 0.96% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ABLS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.