AQLT vs VYM
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AQLT or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.9%.
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 | AQLT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 521 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.66%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 9.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,624 | $12,874Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.9% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, AQLT is up 10.62% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 9.7% 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 -16.8% for AQLT 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
20.9% of AQLT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 31.1% of VYM's money is in holdings AQLT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
53 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 521 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 516 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AQLT (66.5% of the fund), and 87 for AQLT that do not appear in VYM (46.6%).
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 AQLT | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.37% | 7.29% | 2.92% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.82% | 2.54% | 0.72% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.29% | 2.01% | 0.72% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.20% | 1.93% | 0.73% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.02% | 1.42% | 0.40% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 1.07% | 1.32% | 0.25% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.05% | 1.31% | 0.26% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 0.79% | 1.13% | 0.34% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.62% | 0.99% | 0.37% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.54% | 0.77% | 0.23% |
31.1% of VYM is already inside AQLT.
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, AQLT or VYM?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or VYM?
Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% vs +17.82% for VYM, so AQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +14.69% vs +16.02% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or VYM?
AQLT has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 9.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both AQLT and VYM?
AQLT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 AQLT and VYM?
31.1% of VYM's money is in holdings AQLT also owns. 31.1% of VYM's is in holdings AQLT also owns. They hold 53 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or VYM?
AQLT yields 0.98% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AQLT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.