KNO vs VYM
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, KNO or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. KNO led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.0%.
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 | KNO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $43M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.85% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 77 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +21.62%Best | +10.23% |
| 1Y Return | +26.43%Best | +14.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 10.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.5% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $14,622Best | $13,566 |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.0% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Knowledge Leaders Capital, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 7, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 22, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (2.2 years).
KNO 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
KNO vs VYM Performance
AXS Knowledge Leaders ETF (KNO) is an ETF from Knowledge Leaders Capital, LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KNO returned +26.43% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, KNO is up 21.62% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KNO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 10.5% 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 -15.5% for KNO 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KNO charges 0.75% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $4 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KNO currently yields 0.85% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
4.7% of KNO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings KNO also owns.
KNO and VYM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 70 positions we hold weights for in KNO and 557 in VYM, against full books of 77 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 525 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for KNO (96.2% of the fund), and 33 for KNO that do not appear in VYM (53.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KNO 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, KNO or VYM?
KNO has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KNO or VYM?
Over the past year KNO returned +26.43% vs +14.28% for VYM, so KNO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), KNO annualized +18.85% vs +14.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KNO or VYM?
KNO has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 10.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: KNO -15.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both KNO and VYM?
KNO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 KNO and VYM?
4.7% of KNO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's is in holdings KNO also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 70 positions we hold weights for in KNO and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, KNO or VYM?
KNO yields 0.85% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than KNO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. KNO led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.