IHYF vs VYM

IHYF vs VYM

Which is better, IHYF or VYM?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Value.

VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. IHYF is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.

Lower Fees: VYMHigher Returns: VYMLess Concentrated: IHYF

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

MetricIHYFVYM
Expense Ratio0.39%0.04%Best
AUM$134M$81.6B
Dividend Yield6.50%2.22%
Holdings432613
Volatility (annualized)6.9%Best13.6%
Max Drawdown-36.0%-15.8%Best
$10,000 over 5.2 years$12,361$19,820Best
Top 10 Weight6.1%Best25.9%
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Value
InceptionNov 30, 2020Nov 10, 2006

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 202 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IHYF has data through Feb 20, 2026 and VYM through Sep 10, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2020 to Feb 20, 2026 (5.2 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 6.9% for IHYF. 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 -36.0% for IHYF 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IHYF charges 0.39% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $4 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IHYF currently yields 6.50% against 2.22% for VYM.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 396 holdings in IHYF and 603 in VYM, totalling 96.3% 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 273 days apart, IHYF as of Sep 30, 2025 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 396 positions we hold weights for in IHYF and 603 in VYM, against full books of 432 and 613.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IHYF (97.5% of the fund), and 393 for IHYF that do not appear in VYM (96.0%).

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 IHYF and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

IHYFVYM

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IHYF or VYM?

IHYF has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, IHYF or VYM?

VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 6.9% for IHYF. Worst drawdown: IHYF -36.0% vs VYM -15.8%.

Should I hold both IHYF and VYM?

IHYF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, IHYF or VYM?

IHYF yields 6.50% while VYM yields 2.22%, so IHYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VYM better than IHYF?

VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. IHYF is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.