QABA vs VYM
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QABA or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QABA led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | QABA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 322 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +18.96%Best | +11.47% |
| 1Y Return | +18.51%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.15%Best | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.59% | +12.35%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.5% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,416 | $17,901Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.6%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2009 to Sep 21, 2026 (17.2 years).
QABA 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
QABA vs VYM Performance
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QABA returned +18.51% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, QABA is up 18.96% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, QABA compounded at +22.15% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.59% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.85% annualized vs +8.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QABA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 13.1% 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 -51.0% for QABA 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QABA 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, QABA currently yields 2.22% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
36.3% of QABA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings QABA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
19 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 557 in VYM, against full books of 322 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 510 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for QABA (96.7% of the fund), and 139 for QABA that do not appear in VYM (63.0%).
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 QABA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WTFCWintrust Financial Corp | 4.10% | 0.04% | 4.06% |
| CBSHCommerce Bancshares Inc | 3.40% | 0.03% | 3.37% |
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 2.63% | 0.03% | 2.60% |
| HWCHancock Whitney Corp Common Stock Usd3.33 | 2.44% | 0.03% | 2.41% |
| OZKBank Ozk | 2.17% | 0.02% | 2.15% |
| EBCEastern Bankshares Inc | 2.05% | 0.02% | 2.03% |
| TFSLTfs Financial Corp Com | 1.98% | 0.00% | 1.98% |
| FFINFirst Financial Bankshares Inc | 1.93% | 0.02% | 1.91% |
| FULTFulton Financial Corp | 1.81% | 0.02% | 1.79% |
| IBOCInternational Bancshares Corp | 1.76% | 0.02% | 1.74% |
36.3% of QABA is already inside VYM.
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, QABA or VYM?
QABA 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, QABA or VYM?
Over the past year QABA returned +18.51% vs +15.94% for VYM, so QABA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QABA annualized +8.03% vs +10.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QABA or VYM?
QABA has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: QABA -51.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both QABA and VYM?
QABA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 QABA and VYM?
36.3% of QABA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.4% of VYM's is in holdings QABA also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QABA or VYM?
QABA yields 2.22% while VYM yields 2.22%, so QABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QABA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QABA led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.