BELT vs VYM
iShares US Select Equity Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BELT or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%.
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 | BELT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 20 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.1% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,054 | $14,650Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 30 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BELT has data through Aug 12, 2026 and VYM through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2024 to Aug 12, 2026 (2.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BELT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 10.2% 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 -23.1% for BELT and -14.5% 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
BELT charges 0.75% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $4 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BELT currently yields 0.02% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.3% of BELT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 7.9% of VYM's money is in holdings BELT also owns.
BELT and VYM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 603 in VYM, against full books of 20 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 565 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BELT (89.6% of the fund), and 14 for BELT that do not appear in VYM (76.5%).
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 BELT 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, BELT or VYM?
BELT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BELT or VYM?
BELT has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 10.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BELT -23.1% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BELT and VYM?
BELT 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.
What is the holdings overlap between BELT and VYM?
14.3% of BELT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 7.9% of VYM's is in holdings BELT also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BELT or VYM?
BELT yields 0.02% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BELT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.