ARMY vs VYM
Tema International Defense ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ARMY or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.2%.
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 | ARMY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 34 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -3.39% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.14% | +15.42%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.8% | 10.4%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.2% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Tema Global Limited | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ARMY 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.
ARMY vs VYM Performance
Tema International Defense ETF (ARMY) is an ETF from Tema Global Limited and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARMY returned -6.14% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, ARMY is down 3.39% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARMY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.8% compared with 10.4% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARMY charges 0.68% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $4 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARMY currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
5.4% of ARMY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.4% of VYM's money is in holdings ARMY also owns.
ARMY and VYM share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARMY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 34 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ARMY (95.7% of the fund), and 7 for ARMY that do not appear in VYM (14.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARMY 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, ARMY or VYM?
ARMY has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARMY or VYM?
Over the past year ARMY returned -6.14% vs +15.42% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARMY or VYM?
ARMY has been the more volatile fund at 30.8% annualized versus 10.4% for VYM.
Should I hold both ARMY and VYM?
ARMY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 ARMY and VYM?
5.4% of ARMY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.4% of VYM's is in holdings ARMY also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARMY and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARMY or VYM?
ARMY yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ARMY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.