PWS vs VYM
Pacer WealthShield ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PWS or VYM?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.4%.
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 | PWS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 359 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.32% | +11.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.45% | +15.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.39% | +18.03%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.87% | +12.35%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,971 | $17,901Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2017 to Sep 21, 2026 (8.8 years).
PWS 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
PWS vs VYM Performance
Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PWS returned +1.45% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, PWS is up 0.32% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, PWS compounded at +8.39% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.87% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.28% annualized vs +4.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 12.5% for PWS. 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 -24.9% for PWS 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PWS charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PWS currently yields 1.27% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
33.3% of PWS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 38.4% of VYM's money is in holdings PWS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
82 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 557 in VYM, against full books of 359 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 445 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PWS (58.7% of the fund), and 261 for PWS that do not appear in VYM (65.2%).
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 PWS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.46% | 7.35% | 5.89% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 6.10% | 2.63% | 3.47% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.52% | 1.48% | 2.04% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.26% | 1.50% | 0.24% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.36% | 1.86% | 1.50% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 1.46% | 0.60% | 0.86% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.21% | 1.80% | 1.59% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 0.98% | 0.38% | 0.60% |
| VLOValero Energy | 0.98% | 0.38% | 0.60% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.61% | 0.70% | 0.09% |
38.4% of VYM is already inside PWS.
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, PWS or VYM?
PWS has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PWS or VYM?
Over the past year PWS returned +1.45% vs +15.94% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PWS annualized +4.30% vs +9.28% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PWS or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 12.5% for PWS. Worst drawdown: PWS -24.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PWS and VYM?
PWS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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 PWS and VYM?
38.4% of VYM's money is in holdings PWS also owns. 38.4% of VYM's is in holdings PWS also owns. They hold 82 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PWS or VYM?
PWS yields 1.27% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PWS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.