HYT vs VYM
Blackrock Corporate High Yield Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, HYT or VYM?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HYT is less concentrated, with 10.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | HYT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.26% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,211 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.98% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.23% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.22% | +17.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.05% | +12.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Tie | 14.5%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -64.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,536 | $17,797Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.2%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 30, 2003 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 14, 2026 (19.8 years).
HYT 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
HYT vs VYM Performance
Blackrock Corporate High Yield Fund Inc. (HYT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HYT returned -7.23% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, HYT is down 1.98% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, HYT compounded at +6.22% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.05% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs +0.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HYT and VYM have been equally volatile, both at 14.5% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -64.0% for HYT 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HYT charges 3.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $335 vs $4 annually, a gap of $331 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HYT currently yields 10.26% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.6% of HYT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings HYT also owns.
VYM and HYT share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, HYT as of Dec 31, 2025 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 717 positions we hold weights for in HYT and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,211 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 525 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for HYT (96.0% of the fund), and 700 for HYT that do not appear in VYM (96.8%).
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 HYT 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, HYT or VYM?
HYT has an expense ratio of 3.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $331 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HYT or VYM?
Over the past year HYT returned -7.23% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), HYT annualized +0.37% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HYT or VYM?
HYT and VYM have been equally volatile, both at 14.5% annualized. Worst drawdown: HYT -64.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both HYT and VYM?
HYT 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.
What is the holdings overlap between HYT and VYM?
1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings HYT also owns. 1.1% of VYM's is in holdings HYT also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 717 positions we hold weights for in HYT and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, HYT or VYM?
HYT yields 10.26% while VYM yields 2.22%, so HYT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than HYT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HYT is less concentrated, with 10.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.