QALT vs VYM
SEI DBi Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QALT or VYM?
Multi Alternative 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 | QALT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.98% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 17 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.22% | +10.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.15% | +14.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.2%Best | 10.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.8%Best | -6.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,215 | $11,721Best |
| Fund Family | SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.1 years).
QALT 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
QALT vs VYM Performance
SEI DBi Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF (QALT) is an ETF from SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QALT returned +10.15% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, QALT is up 6.22% versus a gain of 10.23% 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 10.3% compared with 7.2% for QALT. 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 -4.8% for QALT and -6.7% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QALT charges 0.80% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $4 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QALT currently yields 5.98% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings QALT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for QALT, our book for it covers 3.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and QALT share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 3 positions we hold weights for in QALT and 557 in VYM, against full books of 17 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QALT | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.29% | 1.50% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QALT 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, QALT or VYM?
QALT has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QALT or VYM?
Over the past year QALT returned +10.15% vs +14.28% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QALT annualized +10.99% vs +15.53% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QALT or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.3% annualized versus 7.2% for QALT. Worst drawdown: QALT -4.8% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both QALT and VYM?
QALT and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 QALT and VYM?
At least 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings QALT also owns. Our book for QALT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 3 positions we hold weights for in QALT and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QALT or VYM?
QALT yields 5.98% while VYM yields 2.22%, so QALT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QALT?
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.