GUG vs VYM
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GUG or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | GUG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.22% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $542M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.71% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 1,262 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +7.02% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.54% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.58% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.8% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $11,949 | $17,111Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.8 years).
GUG 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
GUG vs VYM Performance
Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund (GUG) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GUG returned +4.54% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, GUG is up 7.02% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, GUG compounded at +13.58% per year against +18.64% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 13.7% 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 -32.8% for GUG 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUG charges 2.22% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $222 vs $4 annually, a gap of $218 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUG currently yields 8.71% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.3% of VYM's money is in holdings GUG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GUG, our book for it covers 62.0% 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 GUG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, GUG as of Nov 30, 2025 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.
50 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 603 in VYM, against full books of 1,262 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.25% | 3.38% | 3.13% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 0.89% | 1.15% | 0.26% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.43% | 1.56% | 1.13% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.00% | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 0.88% | 0.94% | 0.06% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.44% | 1.05% | 0.61% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.88% | 0.41% | 0.47% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.08% | 0.76% | 0.68% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 0.04% | 0.26% | 0.22% |
| SIGISelective Insurance Group Inc | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUG 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, GUG or VYM?
GUG has an expense ratio of 2.22% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $218 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUG or VYM?
Over the past year GUG returned +4.54% vs +20.84% 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, GUG or VYM?
GUG has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GUG -32.8% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both GUG and VYM?
GUG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 GUG and VYM?
At least 13.3% of VYM's money is in holdings GUG also owns. Our book for GUG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 777 positions we hold weights for in GUG and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUG or VYM?
GUG yields 8.71% while VYM yields 2.24%, so GUG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GUG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.