CGO vs VYM
Calamos Global Total Return Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CGO or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CGO 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 | CGO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.30% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $204M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.70% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 714 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +19.93%Best | +13.75% |
| 1Y Return | +19.40% | +19.42%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.44%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.03% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,184 | $17,758Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 27, 2005 | 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 9, 2026 (19.8 years).
CGO 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.
CGO vs VYM Performance
Calamos Global Total Return Fund (CGO) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CGO returned +19.40% while VYM returned +19.42%. Year to date, CGO is up 19.93% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Over three years, CGO compounded at +22.44% per year against +18.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +4.03% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.94% annualized vs +1.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% 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 -67.0% for CGO 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CGO charges 2.30% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $230 vs $4 annually, a gap of $226 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CGO currently yields 5.70% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 24.7% of VYM's money is in holdings CGO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CGO, our book for it covers 88.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and CGO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, CGO as of Jan 31, 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.
65 positions in common, counted across the 493 positions we hold weights for in CGO and 603 in VYM, against full books of 714 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CGO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.73% | 7.29% | 6.56% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.57% | 3.38% | 2.81% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.61% | 2.54% | 1.93% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.85% | 1.28% | 0.43% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.86% | 1.15% | 0.29% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 0.58% | 1.17% | 0.59% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.61% | 1.05% | 0.44% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.50% | 0.94% | 0.44% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.58% | 0.45% | 0.13% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.57% | 0.41% | 0.16% |
24.7% of VYM is already inside CGO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CGO or VYM?
CGO has an expense ratio of 2.30% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $226 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CGO or VYM?
Over the past year CGO returned +19.40% vs +19.42% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), CGO annualized +1.57% vs +6.94% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CGO or VYM?
CGO has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CGO -67.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both CGO and VYM?
CGO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 CGO and VYM?
At least 24.7% of VYM's money is in holdings CGO also owns. Our book for CGO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 65 positions in common, counted across the 493 positions we hold weights for in CGO and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, CGO or VYM?
CGO yields 5.70% while VYM yields 2.22%, so CGO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CGO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CGO 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.