BBN vs VYM
BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BBN or VYM?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | BBN | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.16% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 275 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.76% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.34% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.10% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.43% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 12.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,399 | $17,845Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 27, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
BBN 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.
BBN vs VYM Performance
BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (BBN) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BBN returned +2.34% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, BBN is up 0.76% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, BBN compounded at +7.10% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.43% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.84% annualized vs +0.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 12.7% for BBN. 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 -38.4% for BBN and -35.7% 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 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBN charges 1.07% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $4 annually, a gap of $103 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBN currently yields 7.16% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 87 holdings in BBN and 603 in VYM, totalling 75.7% 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 91 days apart, BBN as of Mar 31, 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 87 positions we hold weights for in BBN and 603 in VYM, against full books of 275 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BBN 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, BBN or VYM?
BBN has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $103 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBN or VYM?
Over the past year BBN returned +2.34% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), BBN annualized +0.85% vs +10.84% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBN or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 12.7% for BBN. Worst drawdown: BBN -38.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both BBN and VYM?
BBN and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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, BBN or VYM?
BBN yields 7.16% while VYM yields 2.24%, so BBN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BBN?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.