BASG vs VYM
Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BASG or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.4%.
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 | BASG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $516M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 35 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.97% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.15% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 9.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $11,038 | $12,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.4% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 13, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.3 years).
BASG 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
BASG vs VYM Performance
Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth ETF (BASG) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BASG returned +7.15% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, BASG is up 7.97% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BASG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 9.1% 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 -19.3% for BASG 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BASG charges 0.61% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $4 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BASG currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.6% of BASG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.2% of VYM's money is in holdings BASG also owns.
BASG and VYM share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in BASG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 35 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BASG (88.9% of the fund), and 26 for BASG that do not appear in VYM (77.3%).
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 BASG 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, BASG or VYM?
BASG has an expense ratio of 0.61% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BASG or VYM?
Over the past year BASG returned +7.15% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BASG annualized +7.89% vs +20.43% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BASG or VYM?
BASG has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 9.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BASG -19.3% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both BASG and VYM?
BASG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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 BASG and VYM?
10.6% of BASG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.2% of VYM's is in holdings BASG also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in BASG and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BASG or VYM?
BASG yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BASG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.