OUSA vs VYM
O Shares US Quality Dividend ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, OUSA or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%.
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 | OUSA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $743M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.35% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 101 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.74% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.93% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.35% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.77% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 14.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.4%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,225 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.9% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 14, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.2 years).
OUSA 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
OUSA vs VYM Performance
O Shares US Quality Dividend ETF (OUSA) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year OUSA returned +8.93% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, OUSA is up 6.74% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, OUSA compounded at +13.35% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.77% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.59% annualized vs +9.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.0% compared with 13.2% for OUSA. 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 -33.4% for OUSA and -35.7% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
OUSA charges 0.48% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $4 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, OUSA currently yields 1.35% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
58.5% of OUSA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 41.9% of VYM's money is in holdings OUSA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, OUSA as of Aug 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
65 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in OUSA and 603 in VYM, against full books of 101 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 503 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for OUSA (55.6% of the fund), and 35 for OUSA that do not appear in VYM (41.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in OUSA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 5.70% | 2.54% | 3.16% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 3.91% | 1.93% | 1.98% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 3.65% | 1.46% | 2.19% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 3.51% | 1.32% | 2.19% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.80% | 3.38% | 2.58% |
| MCDMcdonald'S Corp | 3.08% | 0.80% | 2.28% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 2.26% | 1.13% | 1.13% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.66% | 1.42% | 0.24% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 2.71% | 0.32% | 2.39% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 2.36% | 0.65% | 1.71% |
58.5% of OUSA is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, OUSA or VYM?
OUSA has an expense ratio of 0.48% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, OUSA or VYM?
Over the past year OUSA returned +8.93% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), OUSA annualized +9.19% vs +9.59% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, OUSA or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 13.2% for OUSA. Worst drawdown: OUSA -33.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both OUSA and VYM?
OUSA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between OUSA and VYM?
58.5% of OUSA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 41.9% of VYM's is in holdings OUSA also owns. They hold 65 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in OUSA and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, OUSA or VYM?
OUSA yields 1.35% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than OUSA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.