ELM vs VYM
Elm Market Navigator ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ELM or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.4%.
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 | ELM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $598M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 20 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +8.66% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.72% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.6%Best | 9.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,274 | $12,824Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 90.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Elm Partners Management LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.6 years).
ELM 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
ELM vs VYM Performance
Elm Market Navigator ETF (ELM) is an ETF from Elm Partners Management LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ELM returned +14.72% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, ELM is up 8.66% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.8% compared with 7.6% for ELM. 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 -9.0% for ELM and -14.5% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELM charges 0.24% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $4 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELM currently yields 2.54% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in ELM and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in ELM and 603 in VYM, against full books of 20 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ELM (97.4% of the fund), and 18 for ELM that do not appear in VYM (99.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ELM 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, ELM or VYM?
ELM has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELM or VYM?
Over the past year ELM returned +14.72% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ELM annualized +13.66% vs +16.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELM or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.8% annualized versus 7.6% for ELM. Worst drawdown: ELM -9.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both ELM and VYM?
ELM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, ELM or VYM?
ELM yields 2.54% while VYM yields 2.24%, so ELM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ELM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.