BHK vs VYM
BlackRock Core Bond Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BHK or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.2%.
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 | BHK | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.68% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $667M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.66% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,627 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -2.25% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.27% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.73% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.43% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 14.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.6%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,973 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.2% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 30, 2001 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.8 years).
BHK 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.
BHK vs VYM Performance
BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BHK returned -2.27% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, BHK is down 2.25% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, BHK compounded at +3.73% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -4.43% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs +0.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 12.9% for BHK. 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 -39.6% for BHK 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BHK charges 3.68% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $368 vs $4 annually, a gap of $364 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BHK currently yields 9.66% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.8% of BHK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.7% of VYM's money is in holdings BHK also owns.
VYM and BHK share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BHK as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 1,063 positions we hold weights for in BHK and 603 in VYM, against full books of 1,627 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 563 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BHK (95.8% of the fund), and 969 for BHK that do not appear in VYM (101.3%).
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 BHK 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, BHK or VYM?
BHK has an expense ratio of 3.68% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $364 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BHK or VYM?
Over the past year BHK returned -2.27% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), BHK annualized +0.40% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BHK or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 12.9% for BHK. Worst drawdown: BHK -39.6% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both BHK and VYM?
BHK and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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 BHK and VYM?
1.7% of VYM's money is in holdings BHK also owns. 1.7% of VYM's is in holdings BHK also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 1,063 positions we hold weights for in BHK and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BHK or VYM?
BHK yields 9.66% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BHK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BHK?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.