PAYR vs VYM
Federated Hermes Enhanced Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PAYR or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y.
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 | PAYR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $70M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.11% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 56 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +8.25% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.70% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Fund Family | Federated Hermes Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 7, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
PAYR 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.
PAYR vs VYM Performance
Federated Hermes Enhanced Income ETF (PAYR) is an ETF from Federated Hermes Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PAYR returned +11.70% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, PAYR is up 8.25% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PAYR charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PAYR currently yields 7.11% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 12.4% of VYM's money is in holdings PAYR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PAYR, our book for it covers 93.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and PAYR share little of their money.
30 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in PAYR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 56 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PAYR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| USBUS Bancorp | 4.07% | 0.39% | 3.68% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 4.07% | 0.13% | 3.94% |
| VZVerizon Communications, Inc. | 3.36% | 0.74% | 2.62% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.68% | 1.85% | 0.17% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 2.55% | 0.77% | 1.78% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 2.75% | 0.41% | 2.34% |
| PFEPfizer, Inc. | 2.53% | 0.57% | 1.96% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.87% | 1.17% | 0.70% |
| FEFirstenergy Corp. | 2.65% | 0.11% | 2.54% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 2.55% | 0.11% | 2.44% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PAYR 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, PAYR or VYM?
PAYR has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PAYR or VYM?
Over the past year PAYR returned +11.70% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PAYR and VYM?
At least 12.4% of VYM's money is in holdings PAYR also owns. Our book for PAYR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in PAYR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PAYR or VYM?
PAYR yields 7.11% while VYM yields 2.22%, so PAYR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PAYR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.