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 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.5%.
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 | $5M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.33% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 75 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +17.88%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 10.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $13,530Best | $13,373 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.5% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2 years).
AELV 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 2 years both funds cover.
AELV vs VYM Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Large Cap Value ETF (AELV) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AELV returned +17.88% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, AELV is up 12.09% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.7% compared with 10.6% 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 0.85. 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 1.33% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
60.7% of AELV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 33.3% of VYM's money is in holdings AELV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
48 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in AELV and 557 in VYM, against full books of 75 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AELV (64.9% of the fund), and 25 for AELV that do not appear in VYM (38.3%).
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 | 4.86% | 2.51% | 2.35% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 4.03% | 1.66% | 2.37% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.58% | 3.82% | 3.24% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 2.99% | 0.89% | 2.10% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 3.26% | 0.44% | 2.82% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 3.21% | 0.40% | 2.81% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.74% | 2.63% | 1.89% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.79% | 0.54% | 2.25% |
| SEICSei Investments Co. | 2.99% | 0.04% | 2.95% |
| PFGPrincipalfinancialgroupinc. | 2.91% | 0.10% | 2.81% |
60.7% 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 performed better, AELV or VYM?
Over the past year AELV returned +17.88% vs +15.34% for VYM, so AELV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AELV annualized +16.32% vs +15.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AELV or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.7% annualized versus 10.6% 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 0.85, 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?
60.7% of AELV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 33.3% of VYM's is in holdings AELV also owns. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in AELV and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AELV or VYM?
AELV yields 1.33% while VYM yields 2.22%, 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 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.