CTEF vs VYM
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CTEF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%.
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 | CTEF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $636M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 47 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +25.49%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +33.75%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 9.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.0% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $17,412Best | $12,727 |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.1% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
CTEF 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
CTEF vs VYM Performance
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CTEF returned +33.75% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, CTEF is up 25.49% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CTEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% compared with 9.4% 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 -15.0% for CTEF and -6.7% 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTEF charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CTEF currently yields 0.06% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
18.5% of CTEF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings CTEF also owns.
CTEF and VYM share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 47 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for CTEF (96.8% of the fund), and 19 for CTEF that do not appear in VYM (80.3%).
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 CTEF 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, CTEF or VYM?
CTEF has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CTEF or VYM?
Over the past year CTEF returned +33.75% vs +15.34% for VYM, so CTEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTEF annualized +53.20% vs +20.38% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTEF or VYM?
CTEF has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 9.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CTEF -15.0% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both CTEF and VYM?
CTEF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 CTEF and VYM?
18.5% of CTEF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.3% of VYM's is in holdings CTEF also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, CTEF or VYM?
CTEF yields 0.06% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CTEF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.