CVAR vs VYM
Cultivar ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, CVAR or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | CVAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.87% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 271 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +8.08% | +11.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.09% | +16.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.66% | +19.05%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $13,462 | $16,503Best |
| Fund Family | Cultivar ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2021 to Oct 12, 2026 (4.8 years).
CVAR 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
CVAR vs VYM Performance
Cultivar ETF (CVAR) is an ETF from Cultivar ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CVAR returned +10.09% while VYM returned +16.90%. Year to date, CVAR is up 8.08% versus a gain of 11.95% for VYM.
Over three years, CVAR compounded at +12.66% per year against +19.05% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CVAR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 13.7% 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 -19.4% for CVAR and -15.8% 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CVAR charges 0.87% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $87 vs $4 annually, a gap of $83 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CVAR currently yields 1.29% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.5% of VYM's money is in holdings CVAR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CVAR, our book for it covers 94.2% 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 CVAR share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, CVAR as of Sep 15, 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.
41 positions in common, counted across the 90 positions we hold weights for in CVAR and 557 in VYM, against full books of 271 and 608.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CVAR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 1.23% | 1.52% | 0.29% |
| MKTXMarketaxess Holdings Inc?.? | 2.53% | 0.02% | 2.51% |
| KMBKimberly-Clark Corp. | 2.05% | 0.15% | 1.90% |
| HUMHumana Inc. | 1.87% | 0.18% | 1.69% |
| DGDollar General Corp. | 1.76% | 0.11% | 1.65% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 1.24% | 0.41% | 0.83% |
| CVSCvs Health Corp. | 1.10% | 0.54% | 0.56% |
| LWLambwestonholdings Inc. | 1.54% | 0.03% | 1.51% |
| ESEversource Energ | 1.46% | 0.11% | 1.35% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.10% | 0.44% | 0.66% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CVAR 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, CVAR or VYM?
CVAR has an expense ratio of 0.87% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $83 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CVAR or VYM?
Over the past year CVAR returned +10.09% vs +16.90% 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, CVAR or VYM?
CVAR has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 13.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: CVAR -19.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both CVAR and VYM?
CVAR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 CVAR and VYM?
At least 7.5% of VYM's money is in holdings CVAR also owns. Our book for CVAR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 41 positions in common, counted across the 90 positions we hold weights for in CVAR and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, CVAR or VYM?
CVAR yields 1.29% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than CVAR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.