IVSS vs VYM
Applied Finance IVS US SMID ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, IVSS or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IVSS is less concentrated, with 15.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | IVSS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $27M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 714 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +14.99%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | - | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.63% |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.1%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Applied Finance Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 3, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
IVSS 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.
IVSS vs VYM Performance
Applied Finance IVS US SMID ETF (IVSS) is an ETF from Applied Finance Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, IVSS is up 14.99% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVSS charges 0.59% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $4 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVSS currently yields 0.06% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.3% of IVSS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings IVSS also owns.
IVSS and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, IVSS as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
46 positions in common, counted across the 357 positions we hold weights for in IVSS and 557 in VYM, against full books of 714 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 488 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for IVSS (96.3% of the fund), and 293 for IVSS that do not appear in VYM (78.2%).
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 IVSS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCYMercury General Corp | 1.26% | 0.01% | 1.25% |
| OTTROtter Tail Corp. | 1.21% | 0.01% | 1.20% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc Common Stock Usd 1 | 1.11% | 0.03% | 1.08% |
| TNETTrinet Group Incinary | 1.02% | 0.01% | 1.01% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.94% | 0.03% | 0.91% |
| MMSMaximus | 0.81% | 0.01% | 0.80% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 0.67% | 0.02% | 0.65% |
| SMSm Energy Co | 0.52% | 0.03% | 0.49% |
| TEXTerex Corp | 0.47% | 0.03% | 0.44% |
| CNOCno Financial Group Inc | 0.45% | 0.02% | 0.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVSS 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, IVSS or VYM?
IVSS has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between IVSS and VYM?
14.3% of IVSS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's is in holdings IVSS also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 357 positions we hold weights for in IVSS and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVSS or VYM?
IVSS yields 0.06% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than IVSS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. IVSS is less concentrated, with 15.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.