IBUY vs VYM
Amplify Online Retail ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IBUY or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.8%.
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 | IBUY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 86 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -8.87% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.66% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.84% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -9.92% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.9% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,931 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2016 to Sep 10, 2026 (10.4 years).
IBUY 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
IBUY vs VYM Performance
Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IBUY returned -9.66% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, IBUY is down 8.87% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, IBUY compounded at +12.84% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -9.92% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.03% annualized vs +9.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IBUY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.9% compared with 14.0% 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 -73.0% for IBUY 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBUY charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBUY currently yields 0.42% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.5% of IBUY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.5% of VYM's money is in holdings IBUY also owns.
IBUY and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, IBUY 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.
12 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in IBUY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 86 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 556 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IBUY (94.9% of the fund), and 39 for IBUY that do not appear in VYM (69.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IBUY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSMMsc Industrial Direct Co Inc | 2.55% | 0.02% | 2.53% |
| EBAYEbay Inc. | 2.15% | 0.21% | 1.94% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.56% | 1.46% | 0.90% |
| TGTTarget Corp. | 0.69% | 0.25% | 0.44% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.76% | 0.06% | 0.70% |
| WSMWilliams-sonoma Inc | 0.68% | 0.11% | 0.57% |
| SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company | 0.73% | 0.01% | 0.72% |
| NKENike Inc -Cl B Sedol 2640147 | 0.49% | 0.20% | 0.29% |
| MMacy'S Inc. | 0.62% | 0.03% | 0.59% |
| TPRTapestry Inc. | 0.46% | 0.12% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBUY 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, IBUY or VYM?
IBUY has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBUY or VYM?
Over the past year IBUY returned -9.66% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), IBUY annualized +9.97% vs +10.03% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBUY or VYM?
IBUY has been the more volatile fund at 28.9% annualized versus 14.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: IBUY -73.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IBUY and VYM?
IBUY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 IBUY and VYM?
10.5% of IBUY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.5% of VYM's is in holdings IBUY also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 83 positions we hold weights for in IBUY and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IBUY or VYM?
IBUY yields 0.42% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IBUY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.