GAA vs VYM
Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GAA or VYM?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.5%.
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 | GAA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $76M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.48% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 31 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.61% | +15.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.57% | +22.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.74% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.37% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.5%Best | 13.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.6%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,617 | $17,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 10, 2014 to Sep 3, 2026 (11.7 years).
GAA 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 11.7 years both funds cover.
GAA vs VYM Performance
Cambria Global Asset Allocation ETF (GAA) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GAA returned +16.57% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, GAA is up 11.61% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Over three years, GAA compounded at +13.74% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +6.37% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.28% annualized vs +6.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 9.5% for GAA. 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 -26.6% for GAA and -35.7% 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAA charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAA currently yields 3.48% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in GAA and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.9% 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 30 positions we hold weights for in GAA and 603 in VYM, against full books of 31 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GAA (97.4% of the fund), and 29 for GAA that do not appear in VYM (92.8%).
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 GAA 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, GAA or VYM?
GAA has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAA or VYM?
Over the past year GAA returned +16.57% vs +22.23% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), GAA annualized +6.68% vs +9.28% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAA or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 9.5% for GAA. Worst drawdown: GAA -26.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GAA and VYM?
GAA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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, GAA or VYM?
GAA yields 3.48% while VYM yields 2.24%, so GAA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GAA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.