QMAR vs VYM
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QMAR or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QMAR led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | QMAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.90% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $591M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 10 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.58%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +18.75%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.13% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.74% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.8% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,420 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 19, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5.5 years).
QMAR 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
QMAR vs VYM Performance
FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March (QMAR) 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 QMAR returned +18.75% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, QMAR is up 15.58% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, QMAR compounded at +16.13% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.74% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QMAR has the edge at +12.27% annualized vs +11.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 11.8% for QMAR. 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 -19.8% for QMAR and -15.8% 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
QMAR charges 0.90% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $90 vs $4 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QMAR currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QMAR 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, QMAR or VYM?
QMAR has an expense ratio of 0.90% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QMAR or VYM?
Over the past year QMAR returned +18.75% vs +15.34% for VYM, so QMAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), QMAR annualized +12.27% vs +11.97% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QMAR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 11.8% for QMAR. Worst drawdown: QMAR -19.8% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both QMAR and VYM?
QMAR 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, QMAR or VYM?
QMAR yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than QMAR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. QMAR led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.