BKF vs VYM
iShares MSCI BIC ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BKF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%.
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 | BKF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 712 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -11.55% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.32% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.83% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.36% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.2% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.4% | -57.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,338 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (18.8 years).
BKF 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
BKF vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI BIC ETF (BKF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BKF returned -11.32% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, BKF is down 11.55% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, BKF compounded at +6.83% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -1.36% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.06% annualized vs -1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.2% compared with 14.8% 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 -70.4% for BKF and -57.3% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BKF charges 0.72% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $4 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BKF currently yields 1.56% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of BKF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings BKF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 683 positions we hold weights for in BKF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 712 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 526 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BKF (96.9% of the fund), and 5 for BKF that do not appear in VYM (2.0%).
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 BKF 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, BKF or VYM?
BKF has an expense ratio of 0.72% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BKF or VYM?
Over the past year BKF returned -11.32% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), BKF annualized -1.43% vs +7.06% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BKF or VYM?
BKF has been the more volatile fund at 23.2% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BKF -70.4% vs VYM -57.3%.
Should I hold both BKF and VYM?
BKF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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, BKF or VYM?
BKF yields 1.56% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BKF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.