DAK vs VYM
Dakota Active Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DAK or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DAK led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.9%.
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 | DAK | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 140 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.93%Best | +11.47% |
| 1Y Return | +16.09%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6% | 9.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -7.9% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,139Best | $11,956 |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.9% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Dakota | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.1 years).
DAK 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
DAK vs VYM Performance
Dakota Active Equity ETF (DAK) is an ETF from Dakota and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DAK returned +16.09% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, DAK is up 13.93% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DAK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.6% compared with 9.7% 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 -7.9% for DAK 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DAK charges 0.43% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $4 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DAK currently yields 0.73% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
34.9% of DAK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 45.5% of VYM's money is in holdings DAK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
68 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 557 in VYM, against full books of 140 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 460 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DAK (51.6% of the fund), and 68 for DAK that do not appear in VYM (64.6%).
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 DAK | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.03% | 3.82% | 0.79% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.53% | 2.63% | 1.10% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.69% | 1.86% | 0.17% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.12% | 1.31% | 0.81% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.50% | 0.73% | 1.77% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 2.53% | 0.44% | 2.09% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.10% | 0.43% | 1.67% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.61% | 1.80% | 1.19% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.68% | 0.63% | 1.05% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 1.83% | 0.27% | 1.56% |
45.5% of VYM is already inside DAK.
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, DAK or VYM?
DAK has an expense ratio of 0.43% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DAK or VYM?
Over the past year DAK returned +16.09% vs +15.94% for VYM, so DAK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), DAK annualized +19.27% vs +17.63% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DAK or VYM?
DAK has been the more volatile fund at 11.6% annualized versus 9.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DAK -7.9% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both DAK and VYM?
DAK and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 DAK and VYM?
45.5% of VYM's money is in holdings DAK also owns. 45.5% of VYM's is in holdings DAK also owns. They hold 68 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, DAK or VYM?
DAK yields 0.73% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DAK?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DAK led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.