NUV vs VYM
Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NUV or VYM?
Municipal 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 | NUV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.36% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 456 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -6.48% | +10.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.42% | +14.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.36% | +17.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.61% | +11.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.3%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,761 | $17,311Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 17, 1987 | 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 Sep 23, 2026 (19.9 years).
NUV 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
NUV vs VYM Performance
Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc. (NUV) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUV returned -4.42% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, NUV is down 6.48% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Over three years, NUV compounded at +4.36% per year against +17.50% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -2.61% and +11.60% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.76% annualized vs +0.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 8.8% for NUV. 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 -28.3% for NUV 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUV charges 0.66% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $4 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUV currently yields 4.36% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 216 holdings in NUV and 557 in VYM, totalling 48.6% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, NUV as of Jan 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 216 positions we hold weights for in NUV and 557 in VYM, against full books of 456 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUV 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, NUV or VYM?
NUV has an expense ratio of 0.66% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUV or VYM?
Over the past year NUV returned -4.42% vs +14.28% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), NUV annualized +0.02% vs +6.76% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUV or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 8.8% for NUV. Worst drawdown: NUV -28.3% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both NUV and VYM?
NUV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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, NUV or VYM?
NUV yields 4.36% while VYM yields 2.22%, so NUV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NUV?
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.