AVUQ vs VYM
Avantis US Quality ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AVUQ or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AVUQ led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.8%.
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 | AVUQ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $334M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.30% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 556 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.12% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.41% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 9.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.9% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,623Best | $13,022 |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.8% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2025 to Sep 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
AVUQ 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
AVUQ vs VYM Performance
Avantis US Quality ETF (AVUQ) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVUQ returned +12.41% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, AVUQ is up 10.12% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 9.6% 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 -11.9% for AVUQ and -11.3% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUQ charges 0.15% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $4 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUQ currently yields 0.30% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.0% of AVUQ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 35.8% of VYM's money is in holdings AVUQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
100 positions in common, counted across the 496 positions we hold weights for in AVUQ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 556 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 429 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AVUQ (61.3% of the fund), and 319 for AVUQ that do not appear in VYM (84.4%).
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 AVUQ | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.72% | 7.35% | 3.63% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.97% | 1.50% | 0.53% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.29% | 1.80% | 1.51% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.96% | 1.02% | 0.06% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.49% | 1.34% | 0.85% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.08% | 1.66% | 1.58% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.33% | 1.38% | 1.05% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.49% | 0.90% | 0.41% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.05% | 1.13% | 1.08% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.33% | 0.78% | 0.45% |
35.8% of VYM is already inside AVUQ.
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, AVUQ or VYM?
AVUQ has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUQ or VYM?
Over the past year AVUQ returned +12.41% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AVUQ annualized +22.89% vs +19.25% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUQ or VYM?
AVUQ has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 9.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AVUQ -11.9% vs VYM -11.3%.
Should I hold both AVUQ and VYM?
AVUQ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 AVUQ and VYM?
35.8% of VYM's money is in holdings AVUQ also owns. 35.8% of VYM's is in holdings AVUQ also owns. They hold 100 positions in common, counted across the 496 positions we hold weights for in AVUQ and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUQ or VYM?
AVUQ yields 0.30% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AVUQ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AVUQ led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.