ION vs VYM
Proshares S&P Global Core Battery Metals ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ION or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ION led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 31.8%.
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 | ION | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 53 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.68% | +14.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +44.27%Best | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.39% | +18.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.1% | 11.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -52.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $13,289 | $16,175Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 31.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 29, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 1, 2022 to Sep 8, 2026 (3.8 years).
ION 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
ION vs VYM Performance
Proshares S&P Global Core Battery Metals ETF (ION) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ION returned +44.27% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, ION is down 0.68% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, ION compounded at +17.39% per year against +18.43% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +13.49% annualized vs +7.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ION has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.1% compared with 11.2% 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 -52.2% for ION 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ION charges 0.58% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $4 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ION currently yields 1.61% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
2.5% of ION's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's money is in holdings ION also owns.
ION and VYM share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in ION and 602 in VYM, against full books of 53 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ION (97.2% of the fund), and 0 for ION that do not appear in VYM (0.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ION | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALBAlbemarle Corp. | 2.55% | 0.07% | 2.48% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ION 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, ION or VYM?
ION has an expense ratio of 0.58% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ION or VYM?
Over the past year ION returned +44.27% vs +20.01% for VYM, so ION leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), ION annualized +7.77% vs +13.49% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ION or VYM?
ION has been the more volatile fund at 31.1% annualized versus 11.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ION -52.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both ION and VYM?
ION and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 ION and VYM?
2.5% of ION's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.1% of VYM's is in holdings ION also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in ION and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ION or VYM?
ION yields 1.61% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ION?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ION led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 31.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.