FWD vs VYM
AB Disruptors ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, FWD or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 22.4% 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 | FWD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3.1B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 125 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +23.84%Best | +9.71% |
| 1Y Return | +32.43%Best | +13.77% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +36.17%Best | +17.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.45% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.0% | 11.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.0% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $27,075Best | $16,949 |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.4%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 22, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2023 to Sep 24, 2026 (3.5 years).
FWD 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
FWD vs VYM Performance
AB Disruptors ETF (FWD) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FWD returned +32.43% while VYM returned +13.77%. Year to date, FWD is up 23.84% versus a gain of 9.71% for VYM.
Over three years, FWD compounded at +36.17% per year against +17.30% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, FWD has the edge at +32.92% annualized vs +16.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FWD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.0% compared with 11.6% 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 -29.0% for FWD 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FWD charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FWD currently yields 0.09% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.4% of FWD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 16.2% of VYM's money is in holdings FWD also owns.
VYM and FWD share little of their money.
17 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 557 in VYM, against full books of 125 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 512 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for FWD (82.0% of the fund), and 68 for FWD that do not appear in VYM (60.5%).
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 FWD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.50% | 7.35% | 5.85% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.44% | 1.50% | 0.06% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.49% | 1.31% | 0.18% |
| RTX:MXUnited Technologies Corp. | 0.96% | 1.18% | 0.22% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 1.06% | 0.74% | 0.32% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 0.97% | 0.73% | 0.24% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.96% | 0.63% | 0.33% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 0.49% | 0.69% | 0.20% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.91% | 0.24% | 0.67% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 0.53% | 0.50% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FWD 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, FWD or VYM?
FWD has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FWD or VYM?
Over the past year FWD returned +32.43% vs +13.77% for VYM, so FWD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), FWD annualized +32.92% vs +16.27% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FWD or VYM?
FWD has been the more volatile fund at 24.0% annualized versus 11.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: FWD -29.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both FWD and VYM?
FWD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 FWD and VYM?
16.2% of VYM's money is in holdings FWD also owns. 16.2% of VYM's is in holdings FWD also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, FWD or VYM?
FWD yields 0.09% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than FWD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 22.4% 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.