GARA vs VYM
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GARA or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.7%.
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 | GARA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $410,674.98 | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 40 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.99% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Guinness Atkinson Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
GARA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GARA vs VYM Performance
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF (GARA) is an ETF from Guinness Atkinson Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, GARA is up 7.99% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GARA charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GARA currently yields 1.56% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
19.5% of GARA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.9% of VYM's money is in holdings GARA also owns.
GARA and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, GARA as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 602 in VYM, against full books of 40 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 562 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GARA (95.4% of the fund), and 7 for GARA that do not appear in VYM (21.5%).
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 GARA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 3.34% | 0.67% | 2.67% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.81% | 0.41% | 2.40% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.71% | 0.31% | 2.40% |
| PEGPublic Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 2.67% | 0.17% | 2.50% |
| WECWisconsin Public Service Corporati | 2.65% | 0.16% | 2.49% |
| WTRGEssential Utilities Inc - Common | 2.71% | 0.05% | 2.66% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 2.64% | 0.08% | 2.56% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GARA 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, GARA or VYM?
GARA has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between GARA and VYM?
19.5% of GARA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.9% of VYM's is in holdings GARA also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GARA or VYM?
GARA yields 1.56% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GARA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 32.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.