DIG vs VYM
ProShares Ultra Energy vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DIG or VYM?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DIG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over 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 | DIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $86M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 29 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +89.93%Best | +12.29% |
| 1Y Return | +96.33%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.37%Best | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +38.64%Best | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 52.8% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -97.4% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $51,220Best | $17,718 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.6 years).
DIG 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
DIG vs VYM Performance
ProShares Ultra Energy (DIG) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DIG returned +96.33% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, DIG is up 89.93% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, DIG compounded at +18.37% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +38.64% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.74% annualized vs -0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 52.8% compared with 14.6% 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 -97.4% for DIG and -58.8% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIG charges 0.95% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $4 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIG currently yields 1.27% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 8.7% of VYM's money is in holdings DIG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DIG, our book for it covers 75.5% 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 DIG share little of their money.
20 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in DIG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 29 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DIG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 10.82% | 2.63% | 8.19% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 8.12% | 1.48% | 6.64% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 3.39% | 0.60% | 2.79% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 2.95% | 0.38% | 2.57% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.91% | 0.34% | 2.57% |
| VLOValero Energy | 2.76% | 0.38% | 2.38% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 2.66% | 0.30% | 2.36% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 2.25% | 0.32% | 1.93% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 2.06% | 0.35% | 1.71% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 1.99% | 0.25% | 1.74% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIG 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, DIG or VYM?
DIG has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DIG or VYM?
Over the past year DIG returned +96.33% vs +16.61% for VYM, so DIG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DIG annualized -0.66% vs +6.74% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIG or VYM?
DIG has been the more volatile fund at 52.8% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DIG -97.4% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both DIG and VYM?
DIG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 DIG and VYM?
At least 8.7% of VYM's money is in holdings DIG also owns. Our book for DIG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in DIG and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIG or VYM?
DIG yields 1.27% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DIG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DIG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.