HISF vs VYM
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, HISF or VYM?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%.
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 | HISF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $100M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.12% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 24 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.74% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.16% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.70% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 13.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -15.8% |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $10,736 | $16,713Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 95.0% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (4.5 years).
HISF 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
HISF vs VYM Performance
First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (HISF) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HISF returned +0.16% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, HISF is down 0.74% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, HISF compounded at +4.70% per year against +17.99% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 5.5% for HISF. 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 -10.4% for HISF 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HISF charges 0.83% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $4 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HISF currently yields 5.12% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11 holdings in HISF and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% 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 63 days apart, HISF as of Sep 1, 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 11 positions we hold weights for in HISF and 603 in VYM, against full books of 24 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for HISF (97.5% of the fund), and 11 for HISF that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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 HISF 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, HISF or VYM?
HISF has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HISF or VYM?
Over the past year HISF returned +0.16% vs +17.82% 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, HISF or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 5.5% for HISF. Worst drawdown: HISF -10.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both HISF and VYM?
HISF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, HISF or VYM?
HISF yields 5.12% while VYM yields 2.22%, so HISF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than HISF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 95.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.