GVI vs VYM
iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GVI or VYM?
Intermediate Term Bond 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 | GVI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.66% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 6,187 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -4.22% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.72% | +13.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.31% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.02% | +11.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.1%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,010 | $17,334Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (19.7 years).
GVI 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
GVI vs VYM Performance
iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (GVI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GVI returned -3.72% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, GVI is down 4.22% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Over three years, GVI compounded at +3.31% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.02% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.70% annualized vs +2.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GVI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.1% 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 -39.1% for GVI 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 0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GVI charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GVI currently yields 3.66% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings GVI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GVI, our book for it covers 71.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
6 positions in common, counted across the 4,914 positions we hold weights for in GVI and 557 in VYM, against full books of 6,187 and 608.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GVI 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, GVI or VYM?
GVI has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GVI or VYM?
Over the past year GVI returned -3.72% vs +13.75% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GVI annualized +2.60% vs +6.70% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GVI or VYM?
GVI has been the more volatile fund at 25.1% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GVI -39.1% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both GVI and VYM?
GVI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.02, 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, GVI or VYM?
GVI yields 3.66% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GVI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GVI?
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.