GAL vs VYM
State Street Global Allocation ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GAL or VYM?
Allocation/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 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 88.8%.
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 | GAL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $317M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.22% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 19 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +8.31% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.75% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.82% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.04% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.3%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,052 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 88.8% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.4 years).
GAL 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 14.4 years both funds cover.
GAL vs VYM Performance
State Street Global Allocation ETF (GAL) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GAL returned +11.75% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, GAL is up 8.31% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, GAL compounded at +13.82% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.04% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.82% annualized vs +5.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 10.0% for GAL. 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 -28.3% for GAL 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAL charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAL currently yields 3.22% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 17 holdings in GAL and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.9% and 99.2% 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 17 positions we hold weights for in GAL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 19 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GAL (97.1% of the fund), and 17 for GAL that do not appear in VYM (99.9%).
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 GAL 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, GAL or VYM?
GAL has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAL or VYM?
Over the past year GAL returned +11.75% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), GAL annualized +5.53% vs +9.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 10.0% for GAL. Worst drawdown: GAL -28.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GAL and VYM?
GAL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, GAL or VYM?
GAL yields 3.22% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GAL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 88.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.