RA vs VYM
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RA or VYM?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | RA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.36% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $766M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.19% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 598 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.32% | +11.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.34% | +15.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.82% | +18.03%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.40% | +12.35%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.9% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,802 | $17,901Best |
| Fund Family | Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2016 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2016 to Sep 21, 2026 (9.8 years).
RA 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
RA vs VYM Performance
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (RA) is an ETF from Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund, Inc. and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RA returned -0.34% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, RA is up 0.32% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, RA compounded at +10.82% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.40% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.85% annualized vs +0.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 14.4% 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 -54.9% for RA 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RA charges 2.36% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $236 vs $4 annually, a gap of $232 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RA currently yields 10.19% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RA, our book for it covers 79.3% 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 RA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RA as of Mar 31, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
24 positions in common, counted across the 266 positions we hold weights for in RA and 557 in VYM, against full books of 598 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.47% | 0.74% | 0.27% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.28% | 0.70% | 0.42% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.44% | 0.35% | 0.09% |
| NRGNrg Energy | 0.54% | 0.11% | 0.43% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 0.34% | 0.23% | 0.11% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.21% | 0.24% | 0.03% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.04% | 0.34% | 0.30% |
| WMWaste Mgmt | 0.02% | 0.34% | 0.32% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.11% | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 0.01% | 0.28% | 0.27% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RA 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, RA or VYM?
RA has an expense ratio of 2.36% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $232 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RA or VYM?
Over the past year RA returned -0.34% vs +15.94% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RA annualized +0.26% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RA or VYM?
RA has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 14.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RA -54.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both RA and VYM?
RA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 RA and VYM?
At least 4.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RA also owns. Our book for RA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 266 positions we hold weights for in RA and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RA or VYM?
RA yields 10.19% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.