DIVZ vs VYM
Polen Dividend Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DIVZ or VYM?
Nearly the same fund. VYM costs less.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.8%.
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 | DIVZ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $308M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.47% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 29 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Tie | 14.4%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -15.4%Best | -15.8% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $15,910 | $16,061Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | TrueShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 27, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 452 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. DIVZ has data through Jun 13, 2025 and VYM through Sep 8, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2021 to Jun 13, 2025 (4.4 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIVZ and VYM have been equally volatile, both at 14.4% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -15.4% for DIVZ 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIVZ charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIVZ currently yields 2.47% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
76.9% of DIVZ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 20.3% of VYM's money is in holdings DIVZ also owns.
Most of DIVZ is already inside VYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
22 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in DIVZ and 602 in VYM, against full books of 29 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 547 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DIVZ (77.0% of the fund), and 5 for DIVZ that do not appear in VYM (16.4%).
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 DIVZ | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 4.85% | 2.54% | 2.31% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group | 5.58% | 1.56% | 4.02% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 5.89% | 1.17% | 4.72% |
| VZVerizon Communications Inc Com Usd1 | 5.79% | 0.74% | 5.05% |
| CVXChevron Corp.United States -Energy | 4.65% | 1.28% | 3.37% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.50% | 0.76% | 3.74% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 3.38% | 1.85% | 1.53% |
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 2.81% | 2.36% | 0.45% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 3.63% | 1.46% | 2.17% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 4.42% | 0.33% | 4.09% |
76.9% of DIVZ 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, DIVZ or VYM?
DIVZ has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, DIVZ or VYM?
DIVZ and VYM have been equally volatile, both at 14.4% annualized. Worst drawdown: DIVZ -15.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both DIVZ and VYM?
DIVZ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DIVZ and VYM?
76.9% of DIVZ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 20.3% of VYM's is in holdings DIVZ also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in DIVZ and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIVZ or VYM?
DIVZ yields 2.47% while VYM yields 2.24%, so DIVZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DIVZ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.