RDOG vs VYM
ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RDOG or VYM?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RDOG is less concentrated, with 25.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | RDOG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.14% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 44 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.86% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.07% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.65% | +17.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.38% | +12.12%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.5% | -53.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,709 | $17,718Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.2%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 7, 2008 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 9, 2008 to Sep 17, 2026 (18.4 years).
RDOG 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 18.4 years both funds cover.
RDOG vs VYM Performance
ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (RDOG) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RDOG returned +11.07% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, RDOG is up 11.86% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, RDOG compounded at +9.65% per year against +17.42% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.38% and +12.12% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.72% annualized vs +0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RDOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 14.9% 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 -70.5% for RDOG and -53.4% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RDOG charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RDOG currently yields 6.14% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 43 holdings in RDOG and 557 in VYM, totalling 99.5% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in RDOG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 44 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 43 and 557 positions we hold weights for.
VYM holds 528 positions RDOG does not, 97.1% of the fund.
Largest: AVGO 7.35%, JPM 3.82%, XOM 2.63%, JNJ 2.51%, CSCO 1.86%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RDOG 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, RDOG or VYM?
RDOG has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RDOG or VYM?
Over the past year RDOG returned +11.07% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), RDOG annualized +0.66% vs +7.72% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RDOG or VYM?
RDOG has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 14.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RDOG -70.5% vs VYM -53.4%.
Should I hold both RDOG and VYM?
RDOG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, RDOG or VYM?
RDOG yields 6.14% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RDOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RDOG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RDOG is less concentrated, with 25.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.