GOLY vs VYM
Strategy Shares Gold Enhanced Yield ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GOLY or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
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 | GOLY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.90% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $88M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.33% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 15 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -24.54% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -14.53% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.74% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.14% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.7% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.0% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,848 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | STRATEGY SHARES | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 17, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 18, 2021 to Sep 10, 2026 (5.3 years).
GOLY 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
GOLY vs VYM Performance
Strategy Shares Gold Enhanced Yield ETF (GOLY) is an ETF from STRATEGY SHARES and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GOLY returned -14.53% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, GOLY is down 24.54% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, GOLY compounded at +16.74% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +5.14% and +12.16% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GOLY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.7% compared with 13.4% 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 -45.0% for GOLY and -15.8% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GOLY charges 0.90% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $90 vs $4 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GOLY currently yields 9.33% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in GOLY and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% 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 49 days apart, GOLY as of Aug 18, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 7 positions we hold weights for in GOLY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 15 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GOLY (97.5% of the fund), and 7 for GOLY that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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 GOLY 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, GOLY or VYM?
GOLY has an expense ratio of 0.90% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GOLY or VYM?
Over the past year GOLY returned -14.53% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GOLY or VYM?
GOLY has been the more volatile fund at 23.7% annualized versus 13.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GOLY -45.0% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both GOLY and VYM?
GOLY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, GOLY or VYM?
GOLY yields 9.33% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GOLY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GOLY?
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.