NCV vs VYM
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NCV or VYM?
Convertibles against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | NCV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $364M | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.88% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 220 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +5.85% | +16.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.18% | +18.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.19% | +20.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.18% | +11.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.1% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,604 | $17,264Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2003 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Nov 11, 2026 (20 years).
NCV 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 20 years both funds cover.
NCV vs VYM Performance
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (NCV) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NCV returned +5.18% while VYM returned +18.97%. Year to date, NCV is up 5.85% versus a gain of 16.00% for VYM.
Over three years, NCV compounded at +19.19% per year against +20.46% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.18% and +11.54% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.99% annualized vs -3.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.1% compared with 14.6% 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 -84.1% for NCV and -58.8% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NCV charges 1.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $145 vs $4 annually, a gap of $141 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NCV currently yields 9.88% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.7% of VYM's money is in holdings NCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NCV, our book for it covers 54.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and NCV share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in NCV and 602 in VYM, against full books of 220 and 610.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NCV | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 1.45% | 0.28% | 1.17% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 1.20% | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.69% | 0.69% | 0.00% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.99% | 0.16% | 0.83% |
| STNG:MHScorpio Tankers Inc. Common Stock | 0.67% | 0.01% | 0.66% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 0.52% | 0.14% | 0.38% |
| EQHEquitable Holdings Inc. | 0.40% | 0.06% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NCV 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, NCV or VYM?
NCV has an expense ratio of 1.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $141 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NCV or VYM?
Over the past year NCV returned +5.18% vs +18.97% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), NCV annualized -3.97% vs +6.99% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NCV or VYM?
NCV has been the more volatile fund at 28.1% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: NCV -84.1% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both NCV and VYM?
NCV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 NCV and VYM?
At least 1.7% of VYM's money is in holdings NCV also owns. Our book for NCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in NCV and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, NCV or VYM?
NCV yields 9.88% while VYM yields 2.23%, so NCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NCV?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.