GDX vs VYM
VanEck Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GDX or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%.
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 | GDX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $22.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 60 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.15% | +11.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +27.96%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +50.23%Best | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +27.14%Best | +12.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.0% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.3% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $33,221Best | $17,901 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.3% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 16, 2006 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 21, 2026 (19.8 years).
GDX 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.
GDX vs VYM Performance
VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDX returned +27.96% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, GDX is up 10.15% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, GDX compounded at +50.23% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +27.14% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.82% annualized vs +5.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.0% compared with 14.6% 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 -80.3% for GDX 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 0.23. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDX charges 0.51% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $4 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDX currently yields 0.62% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.8% of GDX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings GDX also owns.
GDX and VYM share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 557 in VYM, against full books of 60 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GDX (96.7% of the fund), and 4 for GDX that do not appear in VYM (6.5%).
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 GDX | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 10.81% | 0.41% | 10.40% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDX 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, GDX or VYM?
GDX has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDX or VYM?
Over the past year GDX returned +27.96% vs +15.94% for VYM, so GDX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GDX annualized +5.81% vs +6.82% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDX or VYM?
GDX has been the more volatile fund at 38.0% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GDX -80.3% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GDX and VYM?
GDX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.23, 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 GDX and VYM?
10.8% of GDX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's is in holdings GDX also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDX or VYM?
GDX yields 0.62% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GDX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.