AELV vs VYM
Harbor AlphaEdge Large Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AELV or VYM?
AELV has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AELV led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.0%.
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 | AELV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.38% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 150 | 608 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 11.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,581Best | $13,558 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.0% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 8 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. AELV has data through Oct 15, 2026 and VYM through Oct 23, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026 (2.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.0% compared with 10.7% for AELV. 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 -16.6% for AELV 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AELV charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AELV currently yields 1.38% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
63.8% of AELV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 33.5% of VYM's money is in holdings AELV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
51 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in AELV and 602 in VYM, against full books of 150 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 525 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AELV (66.0% of the fund), and 22 for AELV that do not appear in VYM (35.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AELV | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 4.56% | 2.58% | 1.98% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 3.63% | 1.65% | 1.98% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.55% | 3.83% | 3.28% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 2.97% | 0.90% | 2.07% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 3.21% | 0.55% | 2.66% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 3.05% | 0.45% | 2.60% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 0.74% | 2.70% | 1.96% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 3.01% | 0.38% | 2.63% |
| PFGPrincipalfinancialgroupinc. | 3.02% | 0.09% | 2.93% |
| SEICSei Investments Co. | 2.85% | 0.05% | 2.80% |
63.8% of AELV is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AELV or VYM?
AELV has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, AELV or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.0% annualized versus 10.7% for AELV. Worst drawdown: AELV -16.6% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both AELV and VYM?
AELV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 AELV and VYM?
63.8% of AELV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 33.5% of VYM's is in holdings AELV also owns. They hold 51 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in AELV and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AELV or VYM?
AELV yields 1.38% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AELV?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AELV led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.