DSU vs VYM
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DSU or VYM?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | DSU | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.72% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $619M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.39% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,281 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -2.04% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.33% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.47% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.52% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,082 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 27, 1998 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.8 years).
DSU 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
DSU vs VYM Performance
Blackrock Debt Strategies Fund Inc. (DSU) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DSU returned -2.33% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, DSU is down 2.04% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, DSU compounded at +7.47% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.52% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs -1.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DSU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% 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 -78.6% for DSU 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DSU charges 1.72% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $172 vs $4 annually, a gap of $168 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DSU currently yields 12.39% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of VYM's money is in holdings DSU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DSU, our book for it covers 76.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, DSU as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 898 positions we hold weights for in DSU and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,281 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DSU 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, DSU or VYM?
DSU has an expense ratio of 1.72% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $168 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DSU or VYM?
Over the past year DSU returned -2.33% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DSU annualized -1.50% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DSU or VYM?
DSU has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DSU -78.6% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both DSU and VYM?
DSU and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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, DSU or VYM?
DSU yields 12.39% while VYM yields 2.22%, so DSU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DSU?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.