EQWL vs VYM
Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EQWL or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EQWL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. EQWL is less concentrated, with 12.3% 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 | EQWL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.52% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 104 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +11.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.38%Best | +16.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.89%Best | +17.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.80% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -50.0%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,467 | $17,514Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.3%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2006 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 1, 2006 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.8 years).
EQWL 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.
EQWL vs VYM Performance
Invesco S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF (EQWL) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EQWL returned +17.38% while VYM returned +16.24%. Year to date, EQWL is up 11.52% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.
Over three years, EQWL compounded at +18.89% per year against +17.24% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.80% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, EQWL has the edge at +9.27% annualized vs +6.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EQWL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% 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 -50.0% for EQWL 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EQWL charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EQWL currently yields 1.52% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
58.7% of EQWL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 59.3% of VYM's money is in holdings EQWL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
60 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in EQWL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 104 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 468 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EQWL (37.7% of the fund), and 41 for EQWL that do not appear in VYM (40.4%).
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 EQWL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.93% | 7.35% | 6.42% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.08% | 3.82% | 2.74% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.01% | 2.63% | 1.62% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.05% | 2.51% | 1.46% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.07% | 1.80% | 0.73% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 1.07% | 1.66% | 0.59% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.87% | 1.86% | 0.99% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.03% | 1.48% | 0.45% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.16% | 1.31% | 0.15% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.90% | 1.52% | 0.62% |
59.3% of VYM is already inside EQWL.
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, EQWL or VYM?
EQWL has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EQWL or VYM?
Over the past year EQWL returned +17.38% vs +16.24% for VYM, so EQWL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EQWL annualized +9.27% vs +6.86% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EQWL or VYM?
EQWL has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EQWL -50.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EQWL and VYM?
EQWL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EQWL and VYM?
59.3% of VYM's money is in holdings EQWL also owns. 59.3% of VYM's is in holdings EQWL also owns. They hold 60 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in EQWL and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EQWL or VYM?
EQWL yields 1.52% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EQWL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EQWL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. EQWL is less concentrated, with 12.3% 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.