BYRE vs VYM
Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BYRE or VYM?
Small 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 52.1%.
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 | BYRE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $28M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.68% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 53 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.85% | +15.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.84% | +22.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.47% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $12,138 | $17,713Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Principal Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 18, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2022 to Sep 3, 2026 (4.3 years).
BYRE 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
BYRE vs VYM Performance
Principal Real Estate Active Opportunities ETF (BYRE) is an ETF from Principal Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BYRE returned +11.84% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, BYRE is up 12.85% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Over three years, BYRE compounded at +10.47% per year against +18.81% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +14.22% annualized vs +4.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BYRE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 13.8% 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 -25.7% for BYRE 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BYRE 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, BYRE currently yields 2.68% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in BYRE and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.9% 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, BYRE 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 51 positions we hold weights for in BYRE and 603 in VYM, against full books of 53 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BYRE (97.4% of the fund), and 35 for BYRE that do not appear in VYM (89.9%).
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 BYRE 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, BYRE or VYM?
BYRE 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, BYRE or VYM?
Over the past year BYRE returned +11.84% vs +22.23% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), BYRE annualized +4.61% vs +14.22% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BYRE or VYM?
BYRE has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 13.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BYRE -25.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both BYRE and VYM?
BYRE and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, BYRE or VYM?
BYRE yields 2.68% while VYM yields 2.24%, so BYRE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BYRE?
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 52.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.