NEAR vs VYM
iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NEAR or VYM?
Short Term Bond 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 | NEAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $5.1B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.44% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,887 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.97% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.25% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.93% | +17.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.17% | +12.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.6%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,689 | $17,797Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2013 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2013 to Sep 14, 2026 (13 years).
NEAR 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 13 years both funds cover.
NEAR vs VYM Performance
iShares Short Duration Bond Active ETF (NEAR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NEAR returned -1.25% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, NEAR is down 1.97% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, NEAR compounded at +3.93% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.17% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.56% annualized vs +2.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 1.6% for NEAR. 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 -9.6% for NEAR 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NEAR charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NEAR currently yields 4.44% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings NEAR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NEAR, our book for it covers 50.1% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 578 positions we hold weights for in NEAR and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,887 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NEAR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.13% | 0.34% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NEAR 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, NEAR or VYM?
NEAR has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NEAR or VYM?
Over the past year NEAR returned -1.25% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), NEAR annualized +2.12% vs +9.56% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NEAR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 1.6% for NEAR. Worst drawdown: NEAR -9.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both NEAR and VYM?
NEAR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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, NEAR or VYM?
NEAR yields 4.44% while VYM yields 2.22%, so NEAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NEAR?
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.