DHF vs VTI
BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DHF or VTI?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DHF is less concentrated, with 13.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | DHF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.71% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.84% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 318 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -4.65% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.85% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.94% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.83% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,422 | $17,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | BNY Mellon Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 29, 1998 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 25, 2026 (25.3 years).
DHF vs VTI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
DHF vs VTI Performance
BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund (DHF) is an ETF from BNY Mellon Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DHF returned -6.85% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, DHF is down 4.65% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, DHF compounded at +9.94% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.83% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.07% annualized vs -2.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DHF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 15.3% for VTI. 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 -75.5% for DHF and -56.6% for VTI. 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
DHF charges 1.71% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $171 vs $3 annually, a gap of $168 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DHF currently yields 7.84% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 217 holdings in DHF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.3% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, DHF as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 217 positions we hold weights for in DHF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 318 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DHF (97.5% of the fund), and 216 for DHF that do not appear in VTI (99.0%).
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 DHF and VTI 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, DHF or VTI?
DHF has an expense ratio of 1.71% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $168 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DHF or VTI?
Over the past year DHF returned -6.85% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), DHF annualized -2.38% vs +8.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DHF or VTI?
DHF has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DHF -75.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both DHF and VTI?
DHF and VTI 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DHF or VTI?
DHF yields 7.84% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DHF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DHF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DHF is less concentrated, with 13.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.