ECF vs VYM
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ECF or VYM?
Convertibles against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | ECF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $220M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 99 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.13% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.36% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.04%Best | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.8% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $17,718Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 30, 1986 | 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 17, 2026 (19.8 years).
ECF 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.
ECF vs VYM Performance
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, ECF is up 4.13% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, ECF compounded at +19.04% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, ECF has the edge at +8.31% annualized vs +6.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% 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 -63.8% for ECF 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECF charges 1.16% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $4 annually, a gap of $112 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECF currently yields 3.82% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.0% of VYM's money is in holdings ECF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECF, our book for it covers 63.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and ECF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, ECF as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
8 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 99 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.09% | 7.35% | 4.26% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.15% | 0.26% | 1.89% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.47% | 0.80% | 0.67% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.16% | 1.89% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.80% | 0.34% | 1.46% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.23% | 0.74% | 0.49% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.02% | 0.64% | 0.38% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 0.71% | 0.69% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECF 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, ECF or VYM?
ECF has an expense ratio of 1.16% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $112 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECF or VYM?
Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), ECF annualized +8.31% vs +6.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECF or VYM?
ECF has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ECF -63.8% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both ECF and VYM?
ECF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 ECF and VYM?
At least 11.0% of VYM's money is in holdings ECF also owns. Our book for ECF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECF or VYM?
ECF yields 3.82% while VYM yields 2.22%, so ECF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ECF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.