ELFY vs VYM
ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ELFY or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ELFY led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. ELFY is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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 | ELFY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 116 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +9.23% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.57% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 9.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.9% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $15,077Best | $13,785 |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.4%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | ALPS ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 9, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.4 years).
ELFY 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
ELFY vs VYM Performance
ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY) is an ETF from ALPS ETF Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ELFY returned +14.57% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, ELFY is up 9.23% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ELFY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 9.0% 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 -14.9% for ELFY and -6.7% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELFY charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELFY currently yields 1.07% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
38.9% of ELFY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 7.5% of VYM's money is in holdings ELFY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
43 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in ELFY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 116 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 485 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ELFY (89.6% of the fund), and 56 for ELFY that do not appear in VYM (46.2%).
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 ELFY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.91% | 0.74% | 0.17% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | 0.95% | 0.65% | 0.30% |
| EMREmerson Electric Co. | 1.00% | 0.34% | 0.66% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.98% | 0.35% | 0.63% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.88% | 0.43% | 0.45% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.90% | 0.40% | 0.50% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 1.01% | 0.23% | 0.78% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 1.01% | 0.23% | 0.78% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.96% | 0.25% | 0.71% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 0.92% | 0.25% | 0.67% |
38.9% of ELFY 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, ELFY or VYM?
ELFY has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELFY or VYM?
Over the past year ELFY returned +14.57% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ELFY annualized +34.08% vs +25.77% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELFY or VYM?
ELFY has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 9.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ELFY -14.9% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both ELFY and VYM?
ELFY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 ELFY and VYM?
38.9% of ELFY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 7.5% of VYM's is in holdings ELFY also owns. They hold 43 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in ELFY and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ELFY or VYM?
ELFY yields 1.07% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ELFY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ELFY led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. ELFY is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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.