INVN vs VYM
Alger Russell Innovation ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, INVN or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. INVN led over 1Y and the full window. INVN is less concentrated, with 25.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | INVN | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.26% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 51 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +25.27%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +31.19%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 9.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -26.0% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,526Best | $13,452 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.7%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Alger | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 6, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.7 years).
INVN 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
INVN vs VYM Performance
Alger Russell Innovation ETF (INVN) is an ETF from Alger and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year INVN returned +31.19% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, INVN is up 25.27% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
INVN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 9.5% 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 -26.0% for INVN and -14.5% 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INVN charges 0.55% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $4 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INVN currently yields 0.26% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
12.0% of INVN's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.5% of VYM's money is in holdings INVN also owns.
INVN and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, INVN 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.
7 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in INVN and 603 in VYM, against full books of 51 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 563 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for INVN (95.0% of the fund), and 42 for INVN that do not appear in VYM (85.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INVN 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, INVN or VYM?
INVN has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INVN or VYM?
Over the past year INVN returned +31.19% vs +20.84% for VYM, so INVN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), INVN annualized +19.44% vs +19.06% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INVN or VYM?
INVN has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 9.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: INVN -26.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both INVN and VYM?
INVN and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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 INVN and VYM?
12.0% of INVN's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.5% of VYM's is in holdings INVN also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in INVN and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, INVN or VYM?
INVN yields 0.26% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than INVN?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. INVN led over 1Y and the full window. INVN is less concentrated, with 25.7% 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.