BSR vs VYM
Beacon Unified Catalyst ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BSR or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.1%.
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 | BSR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.09% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $35M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.83% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 30 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.25% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.12% | +20.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.48% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.5%Best | 11.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.4 years | $12,840 | $16,671Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Beacon Capital Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 17, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 18, 2023 to Sep 8, 2026 (3.4 years).
BSR 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 3.4 years both funds cover.
BSR vs VYM Performance
Beacon Unified Catalyst ETF (BSR) is an ETF from Beacon Capital Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSR returned +7.12% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, BSR is up 4.25% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, BSR compounded at +7.48% per year against +18.43% 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 11.4% compared with 9.5% for BSR. 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 -15.7% for BSR 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSR charges 1.09% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $109 vs $4 annually, a gap of $105 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSR currently yields 2.83% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 28 holdings in BSR and 602 in VYM, totalling 98.6% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, BSR as of Aug 18, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 28 positions we hold weights for in BSR and 602 in VYM, against full books of 30 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 569 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BSR (97.2% of the fund), and 28 for BSR that do not appear in VYM (98.6%).
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 BSR 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, BSR or VYM?
BSR has an expense ratio of 1.09% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $105 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSR or VYM?
Over the past year BSR returned +7.12% vs +20.01% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.4% annualized versus 9.5% for BSR. Worst drawdown: BSR -15.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BSR and VYM?
BSR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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, BSR or VYM?
BSR yields 2.83% while VYM yields 2.24%, so BSR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BSR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.