AESG vs VYM
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AESG or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AESG is less concentrated, with 20.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | AESG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 187 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -4.34% | +12.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.98% |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.3%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AESG vs VYM Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Growth ETF (AESG) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AESG is down 4.34% versus a gain of 12.87% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESG charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESG currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.7% of AESG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings AESG also owns.
AESG and VYM share little of their money.
18 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in AESG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 187 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 512 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AESG (96.8% of the fund), and 162 for AESG that do not appear in VYM (80.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AESG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBP:PRFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 2.56% | 0.02% | 2.54% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 2.53% | 0.02% | 2.51% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 1.70% | 0.02% | 1.68% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 1.57% | 0.02% | 1.55% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.80% | 0.02% | 0.78% |
| STRAStrategic Education Inc | 0.64% | 0.01% | 0.63% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.59% | 0.01% | 0.58% |
| NEUNewmarket Corp | 0.56% | 0.02% | 0.54% |
| GNTXGentex Corp | 0.53% | 0.02% | 0.51% |
| BHEBenchmark Electronics Inc | 0.51% | 0.01% | 0.50% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AESG 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, AESG or VYM?
AESG has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESG and VYM?
14.7% of AESG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's is in holdings AESG also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in AESG and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESG or VYM?
AESG yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AESG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AESG is less concentrated, with 20.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.