KMID vs VYM
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, KMID or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y 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 | KMID | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $41M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.12% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 53 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -3.79% | +9.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.97% | +12.81%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 11.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $9,409 | $12,508Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 16, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026 (2 years).
KMID 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 2 years both funds cover.
KMID vs VYM Performance
Virtus KAR Mid-Cap ETF (KMID) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KMID returned -3.97% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, KMID is down 3.79% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KMID has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 11.1% 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 -18.9% for KMID 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KMID charges 0.80% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $4 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KMID currently yields 0.12% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings KMID also owns.
Stated as a floor: for KMID, our book for it covers 94.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, KMID 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in KMID and 557 in VYM, against full books of 53 and 608.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KMID 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, KMID or VYM?
KMID has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KMID or VYM?
Over the past year KMID returned -3.97% vs +12.81% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), KMID annualized -3.00% vs +11.84% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KMID or VYM?
KMID has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 11.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: KMID -18.9% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both KMID and VYM?
KMID and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, KMID or VYM?
KMID yields 0.12% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than KMID?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.