ASCI vs VYM
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ASCI or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
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 | ASCI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $80M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 55 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.68% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.22% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 30, 1996 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ASCI 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.
ASCI vs VYM Performance
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF (ASCI) is an ETF from Aberdeen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ASCI returned +6.22% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, ASCI is up 4.68% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCI charges 0.70% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $4 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCI currently yields 0.75% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 52 holdings in ASCI and 603 in VYM, totalling 98.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, ASCI as of Aug 19, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in ASCI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 55 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ASCI (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for ASCI that do not appear in VYM (1.2%).
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 ASCI 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, ASCI or VYM?
ASCI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCI or VYM?
Over the past year ASCI returned +6.22% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASCI or VYM?
ASCI yields 0.75% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ASCI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.