DWAS vs VYM
Invesco Dorsey Wright SmallCap Momentum ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DWAS or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DWAS led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. DWAS is less concentrated, with 13.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | DWAS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $419M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 202 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +14.58% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.37%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.28% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.31% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,952 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.8%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 19, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 19, 2012 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.1 years).
DWAS 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 14.1 years both funds cover.
DWAS vs VYM Performance
Invesco Dorsey Wright SmallCap Momentum ETF (DWAS) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DWAS returned +23.37% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, DWAS is up 14.58% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, DWAS compounded at +12.28% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.31% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, DWAS has the edge at +11.52% annualized vs +10.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DWAS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% compared with 13.1% 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 -46.2% for DWAS and -35.7% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DWAS charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DWAS currently yields 0.00% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
5.7% of DWAS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings DWAS also owns.
DWAS and VYM share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 201 positions we hold weights for in DWAS and 602 in VYM, against full books of 202 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 556 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DWAS (97.0% of the fund), and 187 for DWAS that do not appear in VYM (93.9%).
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 DWAS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 0.89% | 0.01% | 0.88% |
| DKDelek Us Holdings Inc | 0.58% | 0.01% | 0.57% |
| RRyder System Inc | 0.46% | 0.04% | 0.42% |
| NEUNewmarket Corp | 0.43% | 0.02% | 0.41% |
| HWCHancock Whitney Corp Common Stock Usd3.33 | 0.42% | 0.03% | 0.39% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.42% | 0.02% | 0.40% |
| IRDMIridium Communications Inc | 0.41% | 0.02% | 0.39% |
| MCYMercury General Corp | 0.39% | 0.01% | 0.38% |
| PHINPhinia Inc | 0.38% | 0.01% | 0.37% |
| BHEBenchmark Electronics Inc | 0.36% | 0.01% | 0.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DWAS 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, DWAS or VYM?
DWAS has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DWAS or VYM?
Over the past year DWAS returned +23.37% vs +20.84% for VYM, so DWAS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), DWAS annualized +11.52% vs +10.20% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DWAS or VYM?
DWAS has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DWAS -46.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both DWAS and VYM?
DWAS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 DWAS and VYM?
5.7% of DWAS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's is in holdings DWAS also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 201 positions we hold weights for in DWAS and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, DWAS or VYM?
DWAS yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DWAS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DWAS led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. DWAS is less concentrated, with 13.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.