GRX vs VYM
The Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness RX Trust vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GRX 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. GRX is less concentrated, with 25.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | GRX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.00% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $233M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.06% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 194 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.70% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.50% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.44% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.14% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,930 | $17,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.4%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.2 years).
GRX 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 19.2 years both funds cover.
GRX vs VYM Performance
The Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness RX Trust (GRX) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GRX returned +11.50% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, GRX is up 3.70% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, GRX compounded at +8.44% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.14% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.68% annualized vs +2.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GRX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 14.7% 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 -65.0% for GRX 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GRX charges 3.00% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $300 vs $4 annually, a gap of $296 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GRX currently yields 6.06% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
30.3% of GRX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 14.9% of VYM's money is in holdings GRX also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, GRX as of Mar 31, 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.
28 positions in common, counted across the 175 positions we hold weights for in GRX and 557 in VYM, against full books of 194 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 500 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GRX (82.1% of the fund), and 108 for GRX that do not appear in VYM (51.3%).
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 GRX | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 3.51% | 1.80% | 1.71% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 3.57% | 1.31% | 2.26% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.60% | 2.51% | 0.91% |
| CICigna Corp. | 2.49% | 0.30% | 2.19% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.88% | 0.78% | 1.10% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.93% | 1.52% | 0.59% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 1.85% | 0.54% | 1.31% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 1.19% | 0.74% | 0.45% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.49% | 1.37% | 0.88% |
| CHEChemed Corp | 1.66% | 0.03% | 1.63% |
30.3% of GRX 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GRX or VYM?
GRX has an expense ratio of 3.00% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $296 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GRX or VYM?
Over the past year GRX returned +11.50% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), GRX annualized +2.89% vs +6.68% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GRX or VYM?
GRX has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GRX -65.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GRX and VYM?
GRX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 GRX and VYM?
30.3% of GRX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 14.9% of VYM's is in holdings GRX also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 175 positions we hold weights for in GRX and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GRX or VYM?
GRX yields 6.06% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GRX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GRX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GRX is less concentrated, with 25.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.