BUL vs VYM
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BUL or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%.
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 | BUL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $143M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.21% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 51 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.30%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +20.38% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.94%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.86% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,745 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 2, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 3, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.3 years).
BUL 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
BUL vs VYM Performance
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF (BUL) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BUL returned +20.38% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, BUL is up 15.30% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, BUL compounded at +20.94% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.86% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BUL has the edge at +14.28% annualized vs +11.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 15.1% 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 -37.3% for BUL and -35.7% 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
BUL charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUL currently yields 0.21% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
24.7% of BUL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.9% of VYM's money is in holdings BUL also owns.
BUL and VYM share little of their money.
9 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BUL and 603 in VYM, against full books of 51 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 561 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BUL (96.5% of the fund), and 40 for BUL that do not appear in VYM (71.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BUL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 4.63% | 0.41% | 4.22% |
| CCLCarnival Corporation Common Stock | 4.81% | 0.15% | 4.66% |
| TPRTapestry Inc. | 3.92% | 0.12% | 3.80% |
| LVSLas Vegas Sands Corp. | 3.79% | 0.05% | 3.74% |
| VRSNVerisign Inc. | 3.39% | 0.09% | 3.30% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 1.29% | 0.03% | 1.26% |
| FLSFlowserve Corp. | 1.26% | 0.04% | 1.22% |
| NEUNewmarket Corp | 1.01% | 0.02% | 0.99% |
| TNLTravel + Leisure Co. | 0.61% | 0.02% | 0.59% |
24.7% of BUL is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BUL or VYM?
BUL has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUL or VYM?
Over the past year BUL returned +20.38% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BUL annualized +14.28% vs +11.29% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUL or VYM?
BUL has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BUL -37.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both BUL and VYM?
BUL 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.
What is the holdings overlap between BUL and VYM?
24.7% of BUL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.9% of VYM's is in holdings BUL also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BUL and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUL or VYM?
BUL yields 0.21% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BUL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.