QFLR vs VYM
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QFLR or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%.
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 | QFLR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $502M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 96 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.13% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.79% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.3% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $14,046 | $15,324Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.6 years).
QFLR 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
QFLR vs VYM Performance
Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF (QFLR) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QFLR returned +8.79% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, QFLR is up 3.13% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QFLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.3% compared with 10.2% 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 -14.0% for QFLR and -14.5% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QFLR charges 0.89% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $4 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QFLR currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.4% of QFLR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.1% of VYM's money is in holdings QFLR also owns.
QFLR and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, QFLR as of Sep 1, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
11 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in QFLR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 96 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 557 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for QFLR (87.4% of the fund), and 33 for QFLR that do not appear in VYM (80.4%).
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 QFLR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.32% | 7.29% | 3.97% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.29% | 0.37% | 1.92% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 1.77% | 0.65% | 1.12% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 1.65% | 0.21% | 1.44% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp. Class A | 1.25% | 0.36% | 0.89% |
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc. | 1.02% | 0.18% | 0.84% |
| NXPINxp Semiconductors N.V. Common Stock | 0.81% | 0.29% | 0.52% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.76% | 0.20% | 0.56% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy Inc. | 0.80% | 0.14% | 0.66% |
| HONAHoneywell Aerospace Inc | 0.43% | 0.29% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QFLR 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, QFLR or VYM?
QFLR has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QFLR or VYM?
Over the past year QFLR returned +8.79% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QFLR or VYM?
QFLR has been the more volatile fund at 10.3% annualized versus 10.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: QFLR -14.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both QFLR and VYM?
QFLR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 QFLR and VYM?
14.4% of QFLR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.1% of VYM's is in holdings QFLR also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in QFLR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QFLR or VYM?
QFLR yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QFLR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.