OCTB vs VYM
Aptus October Buffer ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, OCTB or VYM?
Option Writing 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 | OCTB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $51M | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 10 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +10.00% | +16.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.98% | +18.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.47% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.6%Best | 11.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.8%Best | -6.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,285 | $12,081Best |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 13, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 14, 2025 to Nov 12, 2026 (1.1 years).
OCTB 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
OCTB vs VYM Performance
Aptus October Buffer ETF (OCTB) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year OCTB returned +10.98% while VYM returned +18.40%. Year to date, OCTB is up 10.00% versus a gain of 16.08% 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 11.5% compared with 6.6% for OCTB. 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 -4.8% for OCTB and -6.7% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
OCTB charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, OCTB currently yields 0.00% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in OCTB and 602 in VYM, totalling 103.3% and 100.0% 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 46 days apart, OCTB as of Oct 16, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 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 4 positions we hold weights for in OCTB and 602 in VYM, against full books of 10 and 610.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of OCTB 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, OCTB or VYM?
OCTB has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, OCTB or VYM?
Over the past year OCTB returned +10.98% vs +18.40% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), OCTB annualized +11.62% vs +18.75% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, OCTB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.5% annualized versus 6.6% for OCTB. Worst drawdown: OCTB -4.8% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both OCTB and VYM?
OCTB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, OCTB or VYM?
OCTB yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than OCTB?
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.