DVY vs VYM
iShares Select Dividend ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DVY or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. DVY is less concentrated, with 19.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | DVY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $22.3B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 104 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +12.01%Best | +11.86% |
| 1Y Return | +15.84% | +16.81%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.27% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.79% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.2% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,952 | $17,514Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.7%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 3, 2003 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Oct 13, 2026 (19.9 years).
DVY 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
DVY vs VYM Performance
iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DVY returned +15.84% while VYM returned +16.81%. Year to date, DVY is up 12.01% versus a gain of 11.86% for VYM.
Over three years, DVY compounded at +17.27% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.79% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs +5.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DVY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% 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 -65.2% for DVY 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DVY charges 0.38% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $4 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DVY currently yields 3.24% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
99.5% of DVY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 23.4% of VYM's money is in holdings DVY also owns.
Most of DVY is already inside VYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
98 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in DVY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 104 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 431 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DVY (73.7% of the fund), and 1 for DVY that do not appear in VYM (0.3%).
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 DVY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 1.04% | 2.63% | 1.59% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.48% | 1.48% | 0.00% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.24% | 0.58% | 1.66% |
| HPQHP Inc | 2.66% | 0.10% | 2.56% |
| VZVerizon Communications Inc Vz | 1.89% | 0.80% | 1.09% |
| MOAltria Group Inc. | 2.11% | 0.46% | 1.65% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.11% | 1.31% | 0.20% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.00% | 1.38% | 0.38% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.14% | 1.21% | 0.07% |
| PRUPrudential Financial Inc | 2.17% | 0.17% | 2.00% |
99.5% of DVY 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, DVY or VYM?
DVY has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DVY or VYM?
Over the past year DVY returned +15.84% vs +16.81% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DVY annualized +5.17% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DVY or VYM?
DVY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DVY -65.2% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both DVY and VYM?
DVY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 DVY and VYM?
99.5% of DVY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 23.4% of VYM's is in holdings DVY also owns. They hold 98 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in DVY and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, DVY or VYM?
DVY yields 3.24% while VYM yields 2.22%, so DVY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DVY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. DVY is less concentrated, with 19.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.