GSJY vs VYM
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GSJY or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GSJY led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.6%.
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 | GSJY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.95% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 157 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +21.64%Best | +13.91% |
| 1Y Return | +26.29%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.74%Best | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.73% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.6%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,197 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.6% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 2, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 4, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (10.5 years).
GSJY 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 10.5 years both funds cover.
GSJY vs VYM Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF (GSJY) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GSJY returned +26.29% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, GSJY is up 21.64% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, GSJY compounded at +19.74% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.73% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.39% annualized vs +8.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 13.2% for GSJY. 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 -32.6% for GSJY 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSJY charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSJY currently yields 1.95% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 162 holdings in GSJY and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.8% 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 62 days apart, GSJY as of Aug 31, 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 162 positions we hold weights for in GSJY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 157 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GSJY (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for GSJY that do not appear in VYM (0.1%).
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 GSJY 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, GSJY or VYM?
GSJY has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSJY or VYM?
Over the past year GSJY returned +26.29% vs +17.57% for VYM, so GSJY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GSJY annualized +8.52% vs +10.39% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSJY or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 13.2% for GSJY. Worst drawdown: GSJY -32.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GSJY and VYM?
GSJY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, GSJY or VYM?
GSJY yields 1.95% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GSJY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. GSJY led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.