BMDL vs VYM
VictoryShares WestEnd Economic Cycle Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BMDL or VYM?
Long Term High Yield Bond 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 49.7%.
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 | BMDL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $113M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.96% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 420 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 10.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.3%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,708 | $13,321Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Victory Capital Management Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Yield Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 21, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 212 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BMDL has data through Feb 4, 2026 and VYM through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 21, 2024 to Feb 4, 2026 (1.6 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.0% compared with 4.6% for BMDL. 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 -6.3% for BMDL 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BMDL charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BMDL currently yields 3.96% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of BMDL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings BMDL also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 273 days apart, BMDL as of Sep 30, 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 412 positions we hold weights for in BMDL and 603 in VYM, against full books of 420 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 565 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BMDL (97.1% of the fund), and 406 for BMDL that do not appear in VYM (98.4%).
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 BMDL 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, BMDL or VYM?
BMDL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BMDL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.0% annualized versus 4.6% for BMDL. Worst drawdown: BMDL -6.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BMDL and VYM?
BMDL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, BMDL or VYM?
BMDL yields 3.96% while VYM yields 2.24%, so BMDL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BMDL?
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 49.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.