LCR vs VYM
Leuthold Core ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, LCR or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.4%.
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 | LCR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $69M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 36 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 17.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.4%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,558 | $15,894Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Leuthold Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 3, 2020 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 601 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. LCR has data through Jan 17, 2025 and VYM through Sep 10, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 6, 2020 to Jan 17, 2025 (5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 10.1% for LCR. 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 -17.4% for LCR 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LCR charges 0.83% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $4 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LCR currently yields 1.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 34 holdings in LCR and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, LCR as of Aug 18, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in LCR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 36 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for LCR (97.5% of the fund), and 34 for LCR that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LCR 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, LCR or VYM?
LCR has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, LCR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 10.1% for LCR. Worst drawdown: LCR -17.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both LCR and VYM?
LCR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, LCR or VYM?
LCR yields 1.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than LCR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.