BTO vs VYM
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BTO or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BTO led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | BTO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.96% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $709M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.18% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 184 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.96%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +12.15% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.75%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.15% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.0% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -95.2% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,124 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 18, 1994 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.8 years).
BTO 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.
BTO vs VYM Performance
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BTO returned +12.15% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, BTO is up 15.96% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, BTO compounded at +23.75% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.15% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs -4.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BTO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -95.2% for BTO 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BTO charges 2.96% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $296 vs $4 annually, a gap of $292 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BTO currently yields 6.18% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.1% of VYM's money is in holdings BTO also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for BTO, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.9% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VYM and BTO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BTO 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.
36 positions in common, counted across the 134 positions we hold weights for in BTO and 603 in VYM, against full books of 184 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BTO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 2.53% | 0.11% | 2.42% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 2.21% | 0.04% | 2.17% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 1.68% | 0.39% | 1.29% |
| CFGCitizens Financial Group Inc. | 1.87% | 0.12% | 1.75% |
| INDBIndependent Bank Corp. (massachusetts) | 1.77% | 0.02% | 1.75% |
| MTBM&t Bank Corp. | 1.64% | 0.15% | 1.49% |
| BPOPPopular Inc | 1.72% | 0.04% | 1.68% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 1.55% | 0.21% | 1.34% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 1.59% | 0.15% | 1.44% |
| ZIONZions Bancorp Na | 1.62% | 0.04% | 1.58% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BTO 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, BTO or VYM?
BTO has an expense ratio of 2.96% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $292 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BTO or VYM?
Over the past year BTO returned +12.15% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), BTO annualized -4.81% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BTO or VYM?
BTO has been the more volatile fund at 33.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BTO -95.2% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both BTO and VYM?
BTO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 BTO and VYM?
At least 2.1% of VYM's money is in holdings BTO also owns. Our book for BTO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 134 positions we hold weights for in BTO and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BTO or VYM?
BTO yields 6.18% while VYM yields 2.22%, so BTO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BTO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BTO led over 3Y, VYM over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.