PBQQ vs VYM
PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PBQQ 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 | PBQQ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $90M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 8 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.42%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +14.75% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8%Best | 10.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.9%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,834 | $12,951Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 27, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.7 years).
PBQQ 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
PBQQ vs VYM Performance
PGIM Laddered Nasdaq-100 Buffer 12 ETF (PBQQ) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PBQQ returned +14.75% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, PBQQ is up 11.42% versus a gain of 11.35% 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 10.0% compared with 8.8% for PBQQ. 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 -12.9% for PBQQ and -14.5% 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBQQ charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBQQ currently yields 0.01% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4 holdings in PBQQ and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.9% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in PBQQ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 8 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PBQQ 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, PBQQ or VYM?
PBQQ has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBQQ or VYM?
Over the past year PBQQ returned +14.75% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PBQQ annualized +15.81% vs +16.43% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBQQ or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.0% annualized versus 8.8% for PBQQ. Worst drawdown: PBQQ -12.9% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both PBQQ and VYM?
PBQQ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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, PBQQ or VYM?
PBQQ yields 0.01% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PBQQ?
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.