CHW vs VYM

CHW vs VYM

Which is better, CHW or VYM?

Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.

VYM has a lower expense ratio. CHW led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VYMHigher Returns: split

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

MetricCHWVYM
Expense Ratio2.27%0.04%Best
AUM$868M$81.6B
Dividend Yield2.68%2.22%
Holdings775613
YTD Return+13.46%Best+11.71%
1Y Return+16.38%Best+16.24%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.87%Best+17.24%
5Y Return (annualized)+4.37%+11.86%Best
Volatility (annualized)23.1%14.7%Best
Max Drawdown-73.0%-58.8%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$12,384$17,514Best
Fund FamilyCalamos InvestmentsVanguard (US)
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleAllocation/BalancedLarge Cap Value
InceptionJun 27, 2007Nov 10, 2006

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 27, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.2 years).

CHW 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 19.2 years both funds cover.

CHW vs VYM Performance

Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund (CHW) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHW returned +16.38% while VYM returned +16.24%. Year to date, CHW is up 13.46% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.

Over three years, CHW compounded at +21.87% per year against +17.24% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +4.37% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.69% annualized vs -0.56%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

CHW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% compared with 14.7% 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 -73.0% for CHW 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CHW charges 2.27% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $227 vs $4 annually, a gap of $223 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHW currently yields 2.68% against 2.22% for VYM.

Holdings Overlap

VYM already in CHW25.5%

At least 25.5% of VYM's money is in holdings CHW also owns.

Stated as a floor: for CHW, 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 CHW share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, CHW as of Jan 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

64 positions in common, counted across the 499 positions we hold weights for in CHW and 557 in VYM, against full books of 775 and 613.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in CHWWeight in VYMDifference
AVGOBroadcom Inc0.73%7.35%6.62%
JPMJpmorgan Chase0.57%3.82%3.25%
JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common0.61%2.51%1.90%
GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The0.86%1.13%0.27%
CVXChevron Corp0.40%1.48%1.08%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc.0.58%1.21%0.63%
WFCWells Fargo & Co.0.60%1.07%0.47%
CCitigroup Inc.0.49%0.89%0.40%
DISWalt Disney Co0.38%0.69%0.31%
SOSouthern Co.0.59%0.43%0.16%

25.5% of VYM is already inside CHW.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

CHWVYM

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CHW or VYM?

CHW has an expense ratio of 2.27% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $223 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CHW or VYM?

Over the past year CHW returned +16.38% vs +16.24% for VYM, so CHW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), CHW annualized -0.56% vs +6.69% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CHW or VYM?

CHW has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CHW -73.0% vs VYM -58.8%.

Should I hold both CHW and VYM?

CHW and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 CHW and VYM?

At least 25.5% of VYM's money is in holdings CHW also owns. Our book for CHW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 64 positions in common, counted across the 499 positions we hold weights for in CHW and 557 in VYM.

Which pays a higher dividend, CHW or VYM?

CHW yields 2.68% while VYM yields 2.22%, so CHW currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VYM better than CHW?

VYM has a lower expense ratio. CHW led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.