GYLD vs VYM
Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GYLD or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced 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 | GYLD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $38M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.20% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 155 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.35% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.21% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.06% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.20% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,157 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | Arrow Investment Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 8, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 8, 2012 to Sep 10, 2026 (14.3 years).
GYLD 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 14.3 years both funds cover.
GYLD vs VYM Performance
Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (GYLD) is an ETF from Arrow Investment Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GYLD returned +12.21% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, GYLD is up 10.35% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, GYLD compounded at +14.06% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.20% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.13% annualized vs -0.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GYLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 13.1% 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 -70.0% for GYLD 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GYLD charges 0.75% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $4 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GYLD currently yields 7.20% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings GYLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GYLD, our book for it covers 79.7% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, GYLD as of Aug 18, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in GYLD and 603 in VYM, against full books of 155 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GYLD 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, GYLD or VYM?
GYLD has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GYLD or VYM?
Over the past year GYLD returned +12.21% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), GYLD annualized -0.96% vs +10.13% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GYLD or VYM?
GYLD has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GYLD -70.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GYLD and VYM?
GYLD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, GYLD or VYM?
GYLD yields 7.20% while VYM yields 2.22%, so GYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GYLD?
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.