PHYL vs VYM
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PHYL or VYM?
High Yield 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 | PHYL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.26% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 804 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -0.49% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.63% | +13.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.63% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.23% | +11.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.6%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.5%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,723 | $17,334Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2018 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 27, 2018 to Oct 2, 2026 (8 years).
PHYL 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 8 years both funds cover.
PHYL vs VYM Performance
PGIM Active High Yield Bond ETF (PHYL) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PHYL returned +0.63% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, PHYL is down 0.49% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Over three years, PHYL compounded at +8.63% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.23% and +11.63% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.83% annualized vs +2.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 8.6% for PHYL. 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 -23.5% for PHYL 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PHYL charges 0.39% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $4 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PHYL currently yields 8.26% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of VYM's money is in holdings PHYL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PHYL, our book for it covers 69.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, PHYL as of Sep 15, 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 525 positions we hold weights for in PHYL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 804 and 608.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PHYL 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, PHYL or VYM?
PHYL has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PHYL or VYM?
Over the past year PHYL returned +0.63% vs +13.75% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PHYL annualized +2.67% vs +9.83% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PHYL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 8.6% for PHYL. Worst drawdown: PHYL -23.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PHYL and VYM?
PHYL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, PHYL or VYM?
PHYL yields 8.26% while VYM yields 2.22%, so PHYL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PHYL?
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.