IUSB vs VYM
iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IUSB or VYM?
Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | IUSB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $43.5B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.29% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 17,578 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.03% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.04% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.56% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.18% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 13.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -50.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,910 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2014 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.3 years).
IUSB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
IUSB vs VYM Performance
iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IUSB returned -0.04% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, IUSB is down 1.03% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, IUSB compounded at +4.56% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.18% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +8.89% annualized vs +0.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 4.8% for IUSB. 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 -50.2% for IUSB 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 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IUSB charges 0.06% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IUSB currently yields 4.29% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings IUSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for IUSB, our book for it covers 60.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and IUSB share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 12,830 positions we hold weights for in IUSB and 557 in VYM, against full books of 17,578 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IUSB | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.00% | 0.40% | 0.40% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.02% | 0.34% | 0.32% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 0.00% | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland Co. | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc. | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.11% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| RPRXRoyalty Pharma Plc Cl A | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| LYBLyondellbasell-a | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| SFStifel Finl Corp | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| NOVNov Inc Common Stock | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IUSB 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, IUSB or VYM?
IUSB has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IUSB or VYM?
Over the past year IUSB returned -0.04% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IUSB annualized +0.60% vs +8.89% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IUSB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 4.8% for IUSB. Worst drawdown: IUSB -50.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both IUSB and VYM?
IUSB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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 IUSB and VYM?
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings IUSB also owns. Our book for IUSB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 12,830 positions we hold weights for in IUSB and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IUSB or VYM?
IUSB yields 4.29% while VYM yields 2.22%, so IUSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IUSB?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.