QHDG vs VYM
Innovator Hedged Nasdaq-100 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QHDG or VYM?
Market Neutral Strategy 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 46.4%.
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 | QHDG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 106 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8%Best | 10.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.3% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,106 | $13,724Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Market Neutral Strategy | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 63 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QHDG has data through Jul 10, 2026 and VYM through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2024 to Jul 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.5% compared with 8.8% for QHDG. 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 -15.3% for QHDG 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QHDG charges 0.79% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $4 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QHDG currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
19.1% of QHDG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 19.8% of VYM's money is in holdings QHDG also owns.
VYM and QHDG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, QHDG as of Mar 31, 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.
28 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 603 in VYM, against full books of 106 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 540 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for QHDG (77.7% of the fund), and 64 for QHDG that do not appear in VYM (75.5%).
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 QHDG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.98% | 7.29% | 4.31% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.70% | 1.93% | 0.23% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.27% | 0.99% | 0.28% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 0.99% | 1.13% | 0.14% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 1.17% | 0.77% | 0.40% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.05% | 0.75% | 0.30% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 0.87% | 0.80% | 0.07% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.32% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.25% | 0.34% | 0.91% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.75% | 0.81% | 0.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QHDG 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, QHDG or VYM?
QHDG has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, QHDG or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.5% annualized versus 8.8% for QHDG. Worst drawdown: QHDG -15.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both QHDG and VYM?
QHDG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 QHDG and VYM?
19.8% of VYM's money is in holdings QHDG also owns. 19.8% of VYM's is in holdings QHDG also owns. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QHDG or VYM?
QHDG yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QHDG?
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 46.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.