NUMI vs VYM
Nuveen Municipal Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NUMI or VYM?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y 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 | NUMI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $85M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.64% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 275 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.70% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.65% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 9.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.7%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,220 | $12,663Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 23, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.6 years).
NUMI 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
NUMI vs VYM Performance
Nuveen Municipal Income ETF (NUMI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUMI returned +0.65% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, NUMI is down 1.70% versus a gain of 13.91% 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 9.6% compared with 4.6% for NUMI. 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 -4.7% for NUMI 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUMI charges 0.30% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $4 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUMI currently yields 3.64% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 113 holdings in NUMI and 603 in VYM, totalling 36.9% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in NUMI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 275 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUMI 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, NUMI or VYM?
NUMI has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUMI or VYM?
Over the past year NUMI returned +0.65% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NUMI annualized +1.37% vs +15.90% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUMI or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.6% annualized versus 4.6% for NUMI. Worst drawdown: NUMI -4.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both NUMI and VYM?
NUMI 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, NUMI or VYM?
NUMI yields 3.64% while VYM yields 2.22%, so NUMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NUMI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.