GQRE vs VYM
Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GQRE or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%.
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 | GQRE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $449M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.34% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 197 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +1.60% | +9.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.88% | +12.81%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.10% | +18.21%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.95% | +11.39%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,484 | $17,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.6% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 5, 2013 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 6, 2013 to Oct 1, 2026 (12.9 years).
GQRE 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 12.9 years both funds cover.
GQRE vs VYM Performance
Northern Trust Global Quality Real Estate ETF (GQRE) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GQRE returned +0.88% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, GQRE is up 1.60% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Over three years, GQRE compounded at +11.10% per year against +18.21% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.95% and +11.39% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +8.89% annualized vs +2.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GQRE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 13.5% 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 -42.0% for GQRE 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GQRE charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GQRE currently yields 4.34% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 139 holdings in GQRE and 557 in VYM, totalling 95.3% 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, GQRE 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 139 positions we hold weights for in GQRE and 557 in VYM, against full books of 197 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 528 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GQRE (97.1% of the fund), and 59 for GQRE that do not appear in VYM (64.8%).
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 GQRE 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, GQRE or VYM?
GQRE has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GQRE or VYM?
Over the past year GQRE returned +0.88% vs +12.81% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), GQRE annualized +2.70% vs +8.89% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GQRE or VYM?
GQRE has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 13.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GQRE -42.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GQRE and VYM?
GQRE 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, GQRE or VYM?
GQRE yields 4.34% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GQRE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GQRE?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.