CTIF vs VYM
Castellan Targeted Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CTIF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%.
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 | CTIF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $196M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.76% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 45 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +5.80% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.91% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9% | 8.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -10.6% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $10,992 | $12,867Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
CTIF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CTIF vs VYM Performance
Castellan Targeted Income ETF (CTIF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, CTIF is up 5.80% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CTIF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.9% compared with 8.6% 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 -10.6% for CTIF 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTIF 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, CTIF currently yields 4.76% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
73.7% of CTIF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.7% of VYM's money is in holdings CTIF also owns.
Most of CTIF is already inside VYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
16 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 602 in VYM, against full books of 45 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 553 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for CTIF (84.5% of the fund), and 6 for CTIF that do not appear in VYM (22.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CTIF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.85% | 7.29% | 2.44% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 4.93% | 1.15% | 3.78% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | 4.87% | 0.69% | 4.18% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 4.90% | 0.38% | 4.52% |
| AMPAmeriprise Financial Inc. | 5.10% | 0.17% | 4.93% |
| ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. | 4.87% | 0.32% | 4.55% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 4.82% | 0.37% | 4.45% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 4.35% | 0.80% | 3.55% |
| XYLXylem Inc./ NY | 4.89% | 0.12% | 4.77% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc. Class B | 4.86% | 0.11% | 4.75% |
73.7% of CTIF is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CTIF or VYM?
CTIF 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, CTIF or VYM?
Over the past year CTIF returned +5.91% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTIF annualized +8.20% vs +23.38% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTIF or VYM?
CTIF has been the more volatile fund at 10.9% annualized versus 8.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CTIF -10.6% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both CTIF and VYM?
CTIF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 CTIF and VYM?
73.7% of CTIF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.7% of VYM's is in holdings CTIF also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTIF and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, CTIF or VYM?
CTIF yields 4.76% while VYM yields 2.24%, so CTIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CTIF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.