BFRZ vs VYM
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BFRZ or VYM?
Option Writing 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 38.4%.
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 | BFRZ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $145M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 370 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.66% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 8.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.1%Best | -6.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,741 | $12,936Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 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: May 13, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.3 years).
BFRZ 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.
BFRZ vs VYM Performance
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF (BFRZ) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BFRZ returned +2.66% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, BFRZ is up 0.15% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 8.9% compared with 4.2% for BFRZ. 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 -3.1% for BFRZ 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 0.27. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFRZ charges 0.89% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $4 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BFRZ currently yields 0.27% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
30.7% of BFRZ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 44.6% of VYM's money is in holdings BFRZ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, BFRZ as of Sep 1, 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.
66 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 370 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 503 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BFRZ (53.0% of the fund), and 107 for BFRZ that do not appear in VYM (64.8%).
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 BFRZ | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.75% | 7.29% | 4.54% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.76% | 3.38% | 1.62% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.21% | 2.54% | 1.33% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.23% | 2.36% | 1.13% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.02% | 1.93% | 0.91% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.81% | 2.01% | 1.20% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.96% | 1.85% | 0.89% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 0.88% | 1.56% | 0.68% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.73% | 1.56% | 0.83% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.87% | 1.32% | 0.45% |
44.6% of VYM is already inside BFRZ.
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, BFRZ or VYM?
BFRZ has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BFRZ or VYM?
Over the past year BFRZ returned +2.66% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BFRZ annualized +5.65% vs +21.90% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFRZ or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 8.9% annualized versus 4.2% for BFRZ. Worst drawdown: BFRZ -3.1% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both BFRZ and VYM?
BFRZ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.27, 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 BFRZ and VYM?
44.6% of VYM's money is in holdings BFRZ also owns. 44.6% of VYM's is in holdings BFRZ also owns. They hold 66 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFRZ or VYM?
BFRZ yields 0.27% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BFRZ?
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 38.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.