NMAR vs VYM
Innovator Growth 100 Power Buffer ETF - March vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NMAR or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NMAR led over the full window, VYM over 1Y.
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 | NMAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 12 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.57%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +14.81% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.0%Best | 9.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.0%Best | -12.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,584Best | $12,385 |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 3, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 3, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
NMAR 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
NMAR vs VYM Performance
Innovator Growth 100 Power Buffer ETF - March (NMAR) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NMAR returned +14.81% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, NMAR is up 11.57% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.9% compared with 7.0% for NMAR. 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 -10.0% for NMAR and -12.9% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NMAR charges 0.79% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $4 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMAR currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NMAR 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, NMAR or VYM?
NMAR has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NMAR or VYM?
Over the past year NMAR returned +14.81% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NMAR annualized +16.56% vs +15.33% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NMAR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.9% annualized versus 7.0% for NMAR. Worst drawdown: NMAR -10.0% vs VYM -12.9%.
Should I hold both NMAR and VYM?
NMAR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, NMAR or VYM?
NMAR yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NMAR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. NMAR led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.