AUSM vs VYM
Allspring Ultra Short Municipal ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AUSM or VYM?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | AUSM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $33M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.77% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 95 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +1.57% | +15.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.50% | +22.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.7%Best | 8.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.4%Best | -6.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $10,333 | $12,656Best |
| Fund Family | Allspring Global Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 8, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
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 3, 2026 (1.2 years).
AUSM 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.
AUSM vs VYM Performance
Allspring Ultra Short Municipal ETF (AUSM) is an ETF from Allspring Global Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AUSM returned +2.50% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, AUSM is up 1.57% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 8.8% compared with 0.7% for AUSM. 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 -0.4% for AUSM 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AUSM charges 0.18% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $4 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AUSM currently yields 2.77% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in AUSM and 603 in VYM, totalling 16.4% 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 49 days apart, AUSM 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 12 positions we hold weights for in AUSM and 603 in VYM, against full books of 95 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AUSM 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, AUSM or VYM?
AUSM has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AUSM or VYM?
Over the past year AUSM returned +2.50% vs +22.23% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AUSM annualized +2.77% vs +21.69% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AUSM or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 8.8% annualized versus 0.7% for AUSM. Worst drawdown: AUSM -0.4% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both AUSM and VYM?
AUSM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AUSM or VYM?
AUSM yields 2.77% while VYM yields 2.24%, so AUSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AUSM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.