GCV vs VYM
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GCV or VYM?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, VYM over 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 | GCV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.84% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 124 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.55% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.15%Best | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.41% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.61% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.4% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,940 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 1995 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 8, 2026 (19.8 years).
GCV 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
GCV vs VYM Performance
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GCV returned +23.15% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, GCV is up 13.55% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, GCV compounded at +18.41% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.61% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.97% annualized vs -0.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 14.5% 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 -64.4% for GCV and -58.8% 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCV charges 3.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $4 annually, a gap of $316 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 10.84% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.7% of VYM's money is in holdings GCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GCV, our book for it covers 50.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and GCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, GCV as of Mar 31, 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.
20 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 602 in VYM, against full books of 124 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GCV | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.11% | 3.38% | 3.27% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 2.52% | 0.76% | 1.76% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.09% | 2.54% | 2.45% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 2.01% | 0.25% | 1.76% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.20% | 1.85% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.12% | 1.32% | 1.20% |
| IBMIntl Business Machines Corp | 0.09% | 1.10% | 1.01% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp/The Bk Us Equity | 0.64% | 0.41% | 0.23% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 0.04% | 0.97% | 0.93% |
| CCitigroup, Inc. | 0.05% | 0.94% | 0.89% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCV 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, GCV or VYM?
GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $316 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCV or VYM?
Over the past year GCV returned +23.15% vs +20.01% for VYM, so GCV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GCV annualized -0.45% vs +6.97% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCV or VYM?
GCV has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GCV -64.4% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GCV and VYM?
GCV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 GCV and VYM?
At least 13.7% of VYM's money is in holdings GCV also owns. Our book for GCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCV or VYM?
GCV yields 10.84% while VYM yields 2.24%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GCV?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.