AFOS vs VYM
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AFOS or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | AFOS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $301M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 33 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +28.43%Best | +10.23% |
| 1Y Return | +50.17%Best | +14.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 9.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,577Best | $12,140 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.7% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.2 years).
AFOS 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
AFOS vs VYM Performance
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) is an ETF from ARS Investment and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AFOS returned +50.17% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, AFOS is up 28.43% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% 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 -11.8% for AFOS and -6.7% 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFOS charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFOS currently yields 0.22% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
20.6% of AFOS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.1% of VYM's money is in holdings AFOS also owns.
AFOS and VYM share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 557 in VYM, against full books of 33 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 523 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AFOS (94.9% of the fund), and 25 for AFOS that do not appear in VYM (77.1%).
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.
20.6% of AFOS 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, AFOS or VYM?
AFOS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFOS or VYM?
Over the past year AFOS returned +50.17% vs +14.28% for VYM, so AFOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AFOS annualized +60.00% vs +17.54% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFOS or VYM?
AFOS has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 9.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AFOS -11.8% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both AFOS and VYM?
AFOS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 AFOS and VYM?
20.6% of AFOS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.1% of VYM's is in holdings AFOS also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFOS or VYM?
AFOS yields 0.22% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AFOS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.