NVG vs VYM
Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NVG 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 | NVG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.64% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.85% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,103 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -8.65% | +9.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.48% | +13.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.30% | +17.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.14% | +11.45%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.0%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,526 | $17,195Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 25, 2002 | 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 24, 2026 (19.9 years).
NVG 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
NVG vs VYM Performance
Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (NVG) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NVG returned -3.48% while VYM returned +13.77%. Year to date, NVG is down 8.65% versus a gain of 9.71% for VYM.
Over three years, NVG compounded at +8.30% per year against +17.30% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.14% and +11.45% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.73% annualized vs +0.13%.
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 13.1% for NVG. 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 -46.0% for NVG 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NVG charges 3.64% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $364 vs $4 annually, a gap of $360 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NVG currently yields 7.85% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 354 holdings in NVG and 557 in VYM, totalling 72.2% 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, NVG 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 354 positions we hold weights for in NVG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,103 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NVG and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NVG or VYM?
NVG has an expense ratio of 3.64% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $360 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NVG or VYM?
Over the past year NVG returned -3.48% vs +13.77% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), NVG annualized +0.13% vs +6.73% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NVG or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 13.1% for NVG. Worst drawdown: NVG -46.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both NVG and VYM?
NVG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, NVG or VYM?
NVG yields 7.85% while VYM yields 2.22%, so NVG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NVG?
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.