AIRR vs VYM
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AIRR or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIRR led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.3%.
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 | AIRR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $9.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 116 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +5.75% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.97% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.52%Best | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.32%Best | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.2% | 13.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,282Best | $17,758 |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.3% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 11, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (12.5 years).
AIRR 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 12.5 years both funds cover.
AIRR vs VYM Performance
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF (AIRR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIRR returned +14.97% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, AIRR is up 5.75% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, AIRR compounded at +26.52% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +21.32% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, AIRR has the edge at +14.61% annualized vs +9.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIRR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.2% compared with 13.6% 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 -42.4% for AIRR and -35.7% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIRR charges 0.69% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $4 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIRR currently yields 0.09% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
23.9% of AIRR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's money is in holdings AIRR also owns.
AIRR and VYM share little of their money.
16 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIRR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 116 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 552 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AIRR (97.0% of the fund), and 41 for AIRR that do not appear in VYM (75.9%).
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 AIRR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCOwens Corning | 3.12% | 0.05% | 3.07% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 2.69% | 0.05% | 2.64% |
| CHRWCh Robinson Worldwide Inc. | 2.40% | 0.09% | 2.31% |
| RRyder System Inc | 1.75% | 0.04% | 1.71% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 1.70% | 0.04% | 1.66% |
| HRIHerc Holdings Inc Com | 1.67% | 0.02% | 1.65% |
| OSKOshkosh Corp. | 1.50% | 0.04% | 1.46% |
| MSMMsc Industrial Direct Co Inc | 1.40% | 0.02% | 1.38% |
| LSTRLandstar System Inc | 1.39% | 0.03% | 1.36% |
| FNBFnb Corp/pa Common Stock Usd.01 | 1.38% | 0.03% | 1.35% |
23.9% of AIRR 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, AIRR or VYM?
AIRR has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIRR or VYM?
Over the past year AIRR returned +14.97% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), AIRR annualized +14.61% vs +9.40% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIRR or VYM?
AIRR has been the more volatile fund at 24.2% annualized versus 13.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AIRR -42.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both AIRR and VYM?
AIRR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 AIRR and VYM?
23.9% of AIRR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's is in holdings AIRR also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIRR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIRR or VYM?
AIRR yields 0.09% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AIRR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIRR led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.