PICK vs VYM
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PICK or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.5%.
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 | PICK | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.03% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 291 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +26.76%Best | +13.75% |
| 1Y Return | +62.31%Best | +19.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.83%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.86%Best | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.2% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,311Best | $17,758 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.5% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.6 years).
PICK 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
PICK vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PICK returned +62.31% while VYM returned +19.42%. Year to date, PICK is up 26.76% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Over three years, PICK compounded at +21.83% per year against +18.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.86% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.16% annualized vs +5.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PICK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% compared with 13.0% for VYM. 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 -80.4% for PICK 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PICK 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, PICK currently yields 2.03% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
6.3% of PICK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings PICK also owns.
PICK and VYM share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 256 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 603 in VYM, against full books of 291 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 564 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PICK (97.1% of the fund), and 22 for PICK that do not appear in VYM (12.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PICK 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, PICK or VYM?
PICK 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, PICK or VYM?
Over the past year PICK returned +62.31% vs +19.42% for VYM, so PICK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PICK annualized +5.78% vs +10.16% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PICK or VYM?
PICK has been the more volatile fund at 27.2% annualized versus 13.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PICK -80.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PICK and VYM?
PICK and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PICK and VYM?
6.3% of PICK's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's is in holdings PICK also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 256 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PICK or VYM?
PICK yields 2.03% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PICK?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.