BCV vs VYM
Bancroft Fund Ltd vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BCV or VYM?
Convertibles against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BCV led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 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 | BCV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.11% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $178M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.69% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 86 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.08% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.17% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.67%Best | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.05% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.5%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,621 | $17,718Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 4, 1971 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.8 years).
BCV 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
BCV vs VYM Performance
Bancroft Fund Ltd (BCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BCV returned +12.17% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, BCV is up 10.08% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, BCV compounded at +20.67% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.05% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.87% annualized vs +3.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 14.6% 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 -57.5% for BCV and -58.8% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BCV charges 1.11% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $111 vs $4 annually, a gap of $107 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCV currently yields 3.69% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.2% of VYM's money is in holdings BCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BCV, our book for it covers 55.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and BCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, BCV as of Mar 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in BCV and 557 in VYM, against full books of 86 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BCV 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, BCV or VYM?
BCV has an expense ratio of 1.11% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $107 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BCV or VYM?
Over the past year BCV returned +12.17% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), BCV annualized +3.19% vs +6.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BCV or VYM?
BCV has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BCV -57.5% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both BCV and VYM?
BCV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 BCV and VYM?
At least 1.2% of VYM's money is in holdings BCV also owns. Our book for BCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in BCV and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCV or VYM?
BCV yields 3.69% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BCV?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BCV led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.