GBAB vs VYM
Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GBAB or VYM?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | GBAB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.93% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $373M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.72% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 636 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -9.63% | +9.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.99% | +12.81%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.86% | +18.21%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.36% | +11.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 12.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.8% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,002 | $17,149Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (15.9 years).
GBAB 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.
GBAB vs VYM Performance
Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust (GBAB) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GBAB returned -11.99% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, GBAB is down 9.63% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Over three years, GBAB compounded at +2.86% per year against +18.21% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -4.36% and +11.39% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.00% annualized vs +0.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 11.8% for GBAB. 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 -35.8% for GBAB 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GBAB charges 2.93% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $293 vs $4 annually, a gap of $289 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GBAB currently yields 10.72% against 2.22% for VYM.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GBAB 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, GBAB or VYM?
GBAB has an expense ratio of 2.93% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $289 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GBAB or VYM?
Over the past year GBAB returned -11.99% vs +12.81% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GBAB annualized +0.12% vs +10.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GBAB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 11.8% for GBAB. Worst drawdown: GBAB -35.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GBAB and VYM?
GBAB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, GBAB or VYM?
GBAB yields 10.72% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GBAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GBAB?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.