GDXJ vs VYM
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GDXJ or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ 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 42.5%.
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 | GDXJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $9.2B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 228 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +0.40% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.69%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +55.53%Best | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +25.38%Best | +11.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.2% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.7% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $30,984Best | $17,334 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.5% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 11, 2009 to Oct 2, 2026 (16.9 years).
GDXJ 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 16.9 years both funds cover.
GDXJ vs VYM Performance
VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDXJ returned +16.69% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, GDXJ is up 0.40% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Over three years, GDXJ compounded at +55.53% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +25.38% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.85% annualized vs +2.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 42.2% compared with 13.1% 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 -88.7% for GDXJ 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDXJ charges 0.52% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $4 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDXJ currently yields 2.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 112 holdings in GDXJ and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.7% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GDXJ as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 112 positions we hold weights for in GDXJ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 228 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GDXJ (97.1% of the fund), and 12 for GDXJ that do not appear in VYM (10.9%).
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 GDXJ 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, GDXJ or VYM?
GDXJ has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDXJ or VYM?
Over the past year GDXJ returned +16.69% vs +13.75% for VYM, so GDXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), GDXJ annualized +2.60% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDXJ or VYM?
GDXJ has been the more volatile fund at 42.2% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GDXJ -88.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GDXJ and VYM?
GDXJ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, GDXJ or VYM?
GDXJ yields 2.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GDXJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GDXJ 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 42.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.