ASCE vs VYM
Allspring SMID Core ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ASCE or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%.
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 | ASCE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $181M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 53 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +28.88%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +31.93%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 8.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $14,361Best | $12,596 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Allspring Global Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 8, 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: Jul 8, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
ASCE 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.
ASCE vs VYM Performance
Allspring SMID Core ETF (ASCE) is an ETF from Allspring Global Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ASCE returned +31.93% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, ASCE is up 28.88% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 8.9% 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 -9.2% for ASCE 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCE charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCE currently yields 0.17% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
13.6% of ASCE's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings ASCE also owns.
ASCE and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, ASCE as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 603 in VYM, against full books of 53 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 563 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ASCE (97.3% of the fund), and 42 for ASCE that do not appear in VYM (81.9%).
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 ASCE | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRTVirtu Financial Inc Class A | 2.54% | 0.02% | 2.52% |
| OASChord Energy Corp | 2.36% | 0.03% | 2.33% |
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 2.23% | 0.03% | 2.20% |
| KTBKontoor Brands Inc | 1.71% | 0.02% | 1.69% |
| SAICScience Applications International Corp | 1.67% | 0.02% | 1.65% |
| LNCLincoln National Corp. | 1.62% | 0.03% | 1.59% |
| OZKBank Ozk | 1.49% | 0.02% | 1.47% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ASCE 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, ASCE or VYM?
ASCE has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCE or VYM?
Over the past year ASCE returned +31.93% vs +20.84% for VYM, so ASCE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ASCE annualized +35.20% vs +21.21% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCE or VYM?
ASCE has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 8.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ASCE -9.2% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both ASCE and VYM?
ASCE and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 ASCE and VYM?
13.6% of ASCE's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's is in holdings ASCE also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASCE or VYM?
ASCE yields 0.17% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ASCE?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.