GRF vs VYM
Eagle Capital Growth Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GRF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
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 | GRF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.61% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $40M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.34% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 26 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -4.30% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.67% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.30% | +17.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.45% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 99.6% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -89.1% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,432 | $17,718Best |
| Fund Family | Eagle Capital Growth Fund Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 2, 1990 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.8 years).
GRF 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.
GRF vs VYM Performance
Eagle Capital Growth Fund Inc. (GRF) is an ETF from Eagle Capital Growth Fund Inc. and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GRF returned +6.67% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, GRF is down 4.30% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, GRF compounded at +5.30% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +4.45% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.87% annualized vs +1.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GRF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 99.6% 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 -89.1% for GRF 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 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GRF charges 1.61% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $161 vs $4 annually, a gap of $157 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GRF currently yields 8.34% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.9% of VYM's money is in holdings GRF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GRF, our book for it covers 87.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and GRF share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in GRF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 26 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GRF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. | 3.92% | 0.34% | 3.58% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.62% | 2.51% | 0.89% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 3.45% | 0.04% | 3.41% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 2.54% | 0.49% | 2.05% |
| CLColgate-Palmolive Co | 2.28% | 0.29% | 1.99% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.61% | 1.37% | 0.76% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 1.39% | 0.43% | 0.96% |
| KHCKraft Heinz Co. | 1.42% | 0.09% | 1.33% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 1.22% | 0.15% | 1.07% |
| EBAYEbay Inc. | 0.69% | 0.21% | 0.48% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GRF 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, GRF or VYM?
GRF has an expense ratio of 1.61% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $157 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GRF or VYM?
Over the past year GRF returned +6.67% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GRF annualized +1.14% vs +6.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GRF or VYM?
GRF has been the more volatile fund at 99.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GRF -89.1% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GRF and VYM?
GRF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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 GRF and VYM?
At least 5.9% of VYM's money is in holdings GRF also owns. Our book for GRF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in GRF and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GRF or VYM?
GRF yields 8.34% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GRF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GRF?
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.