LST vs VYM
Leuthold Select Industries ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, LST or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. LST led over 1Y and the full window. LST is less concentrated, with 17.7% 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 | LST | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $178M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 122 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +18.28%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +21.26%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 10.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.5% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,862Best | $12,450 |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.7%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Leuthold Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2000 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.7 years).
LST 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
LST vs VYM Performance
Leuthold Select Industries ETF (LST) is an ETF from Leuthold Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LST returned +21.26% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, LST is up 18.28% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LST has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 10.1% 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 -19.5% for LST 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LST charges 0.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $4 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LST currently yields 1.12% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
45.3% of LST's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 34.2% of VYM's money is in holdings LST also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
51 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in LST and 557 in VYM, against full books of 122 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for LST (62.9% of the fund), and 50 for LST that do not appear in VYM (42.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in LST | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.97% | 7.35% | 6.38% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.44% | 3.82% | 2.38% |
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 1.01% | 2.63% | 1.62% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.11% | 2.51% | 1.40% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.67% | 1.86% | 0.19% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 1.28% | 1.66% | 0.38% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 2.27% | 0.50% | 1.77% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.05% | 1.48% | 0.43% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.43% | 0.89% | 0.54% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.95% | 1.31% | 0.36% |
45.3% of LST is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, LST or VYM?
LST has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LST or VYM?
Over the past year LST returned +21.26% vs +15.42% for VYM, so LST leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LST annualized +21.18% vs +13.76% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LST or VYM?
LST has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 10.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: LST -19.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both LST and VYM?
LST and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 LST and VYM?
45.3% of LST's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 34.2% of VYM's is in holdings LST also owns. They hold 51 positions in common, counted across the 117 positions we hold weights for in LST and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, LST or VYM?
LST yields 1.12% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than LST?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. LST led over 1Y and the full window. LST is less concentrated, with 17.7% 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.