CARK vs VYM
CastleArk Large Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CARK or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.0%.
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 | CARK | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 29 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.23% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.48% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,640 | $16,207Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.0% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | CastleArk Management LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.8 years).
CARK 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
CARK vs VYM Performance
CastleArk Large Growth ETF (CARK) is an ETF from CastleArk Management LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CARK returned +9.48% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, CARK is up 7.23% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CARK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 10.2% 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 -25.2% for CARK 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CARK charges 0.54% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $4 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CARK currently yields 0.01% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.8% of CARK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.3% of VYM's money is in holdings CARK also owns.
CARK and VYM share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 557 in VYM, against full books of 29 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 522 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for CARK (86.8% of the fund), and 22 for CARK that do not appear in VYM (84.0%).
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 CARK 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, CARK or VYM?
CARK has an expense ratio of 0.54% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CARK or VYM?
Over the past year CARK returned +9.48% vs +16.61% 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, CARK or VYM?
CARK has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 10.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CARK -25.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both CARK and VYM?
CARK and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 CARK and VYM?
14.8% of CARK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.3% of VYM's is in holdings CARK also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARK or VYM?
CARK yields 0.01% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CARK?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.