EAGG vs VYM
iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EAGG or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
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 | EAGG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $5.1B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.07% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 5,128 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.48% | +11.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.08% | +16.24%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.76% | +17.24%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.72% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.6%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.4%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,645 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2018 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 23, 2018 to Sep 16, 2026 (7.9 years).
EAGG 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
EAGG vs VYM Performance
iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF (EAGG) 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 EAGG returned -1.08% while VYM returned +16.24%. Year to date, EAGG is down 1.48% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.
Over three years, EAGG compounded at +3.76% per year against +17.24% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.72% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.78% annualized vs +0.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 5.6% for EAGG. 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 -19.4% for EAGG 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EAGG charges 0.10% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $4 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EAGG currently yields 4.07% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings EAGG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for EAGG, our book for it covers 84.6% 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 4,551 positions we hold weights for in EAGG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 5,128 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EAGG 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, EAGG or VYM?
EAGG has an expense ratio of 0.10% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EAGG or VYM?
Over the past year EAGG returned -1.08% vs +16.24% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), EAGG annualized +0.98% vs +10.78% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EAGG or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 5.6% for EAGG. Worst drawdown: EAGG -19.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both EAGG and VYM?
EAGG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, EAGG or VYM?
EAGG yields 4.07% while VYM yields 2.22%, so EAGG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EAGG?
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.