GII vs VYM
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GII or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.3%.
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 | GII | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $940M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.66% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 90 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.27% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.95% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.90% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.98% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.6%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,090 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.3% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.6 years).
GII 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
GII vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF (GII) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GII returned +11.95% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, GII is up 6.27% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, GII compounded at +16.90% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.98% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs +2.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GII has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% 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 -53.6% for GII 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GII charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GII currently yields 2.66% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
32.1% of GII's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.8% of VYM's money is in holdings GII also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 603 in VYM, against full books of 90 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 553 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GII (92.6% of the fund), and 11 for GII that do not appear in VYM (12.6%).
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 GII | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.82% | 0.76% | 4.06% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 3.01% | 0.38% | 2.63% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.85% | 0.45% | 2.40% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.71% | 0.41% | 2.30% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.04% | 0.37% | 1.67% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.11% | 0.26% | 1.85% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.89% | 0.31% | 1.58% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 1.93% | 0.24% | 1.69% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 1.90% | 0.23% | 1.67% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 1.61% | 0.25% | 1.36% |
32.1% of GII is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GII or VYM?
GII has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GII or VYM?
Over the past year GII returned +11.95% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GII annualized +2.80% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GII or VYM?
GII has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GII -53.6% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GII and VYM?
GII and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 GII and VYM?
32.1% of GII's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.8% of VYM's is in holdings GII also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GII or VYM?
GII yields 2.66% while VYM yields 2.24%, so GII currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GII?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.