ABXB vs VYM
Abacus Flexible Bond Leaders ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ABXB or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | ABXB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.62% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 9 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -2.74% | +10.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.52% | +14.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.35% | +17.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.29% | +11.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.6%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,146 | $17,311Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Donoghue Forlines ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 7, 2020 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 8, 2020 to Sep 23, 2026 (5.8 years).
ABXB 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 5.8 years both funds cover.
ABXB vs VYM Performance
Abacus Flexible Bond Leaders ETF (ABXB) is an ETF from Donoghue Forlines ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ABXB returned -1.52% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, ABXB is down 2.74% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Over three years, ABXB compounded at +5.35% per year against +17.50% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.29% and +11.60% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +12.81% annualized vs +0.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 5.6% for ABXB. 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 -17.0% for ABXB and -15.8% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ABXB charges 0.62% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $62 vs $4 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ABXB currently yields 5.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in ABXB and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.4% 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 7 positions we hold weights for in ABXB and 557 in VYM, against full books of 9 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ABXB (97.1% of the fund), and 7 for ABXB that do not appear in VYM (99.4%).
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 ABXB 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, ABXB or VYM?
ABXB has an expense ratio of 0.62% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ABXB or VYM?
Over the past year ABXB returned -1.52% vs +14.28% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ABXB annualized +0.65% vs +12.81% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ABXB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 5.6% for ABXB. Worst drawdown: ABXB -17.0% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both ABXB and VYM?
ABXB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, ABXB or VYM?
ABXB yields 5.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so ABXB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ABXB?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.