NMAI vs VYM
Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NMAI or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NMAI led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 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 | NMAI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.87% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.58% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 1,312 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +20.40%Best | +14.33% |
| 1Y Return | +26.83%Best | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.14%Best | +18.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 13.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.6% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $13,874 | $17,133Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 22, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 22, 2021 to Sep 8, 2026 (4.8 years).
NMAI 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
NMAI vs VYM Performance
Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund (NMAI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NMAI returned +26.83% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, NMAI is up 20.40% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, NMAI compounded at +21.14% per year against +18.43% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NMAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 13.7% 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 -35.6% for NMAI and -15.8% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NMAI charges 1.87% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $187 vs $4 annually, a gap of $183 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMAI currently yields 9.58% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 60.6% of VYM's money is in holdings NMAI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NMAI, our book for it covers 66.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, NMAI as of Jan 30, 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.
132 positions in common, counted across the 663 positions we hold weights for in NMAI and 602 in VYM, against full books of 1,312 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NMAI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.45% | 7.29% | 5.84% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.20% | 3.38% | 2.18% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp | 0.83% | 2.36% | 1.53% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.16% | 2.54% | 2.38% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.66% | 2.01% | 1.35% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc | 0.08% | 1.93% | 1.85% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co | 0.90% | 1.05% | 0.15% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.08% | 1.85% | 1.77% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.37% | 1.46% | 1.09% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.35% | 1.42% | 1.07% |
60.6% of VYM is already inside NMAI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NMAI or VYM?
NMAI has an expense ratio of 1.87% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $183 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NMAI or VYM?
Over the past year NMAI returned +26.83% vs +20.01% for VYM, so NMAI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NMAI or VYM?
NMAI has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 13.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: NMAI -35.6% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both NMAI and VYM?
NMAI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 NMAI and VYM?
At least 60.6% of VYM's money is in holdings NMAI also owns. Our book for NMAI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 132 positions in common, counted across the 663 positions we hold weights for in NMAI and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, NMAI or VYM?
NMAI yields 9.58% while VYM yields 2.24%, so NMAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NMAI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NMAI led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.