REGL vs VYM
ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, REGL or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. REGL led over the full window, VYM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
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 | REGL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.16% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 66 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +10.61% | +15.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.95% | +19.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.87% | +19.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.00% | +11.48%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,026 | $17,218Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 3, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2015 to Nov 13, 2026 (11.8 years).
REGL 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
REGL vs VYM Performance
ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year REGL returned +12.95% while VYM returned +19.62%. Year to date, REGL is up 10.61% versus a gain of 15.95% for VYM.
Over three years, REGL compounded at +12.87% per year against +19.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.00% and +11.48% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, REGL has the edge at +9.60% annualized vs +9.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
REGL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.9% 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 -36.4% for REGL 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
REGL charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, REGL currently yields 2.16% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings REGL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for REGL, our book for it covers 87.4% 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 REGL share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 67 days apart, REGL as of Nov 6, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
36 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in REGL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 66 and 610.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in REGL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVREvercore Inc | 1.68% | 0.04% | 1.64% |
| WTRGEssential Utilities Inc - Common | 1.66% | 0.05% | 1.61% |
| AVNTAvient Corp | 1.67% | 0.02% | 1.65% |
| RRyder System Inc | 1.65% | 0.04% | 1.61% |
| NWENorthwestern Corp | 1.62% | 0.02% | 1.60% |
| BKHBlack Hills Corp | 1.61% | 0.02% | 1.59% |
| OGSOne Gas Inc | 1.60% | 0.02% | 1.58% |
| SRSpire Inc. | 1.60% | 0.02% | 1.58% |
| RLIRli Corp | 1.59% | 0.02% | 1.57% |
| IDAIdacorp Inc | 1.58% | 0.03% | 1.55% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of REGL 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, REGL or VYM?
REGL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, REGL or VYM?
Over the past year REGL returned +12.95% vs +19.62% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), REGL annualized +9.60% vs +9.21% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, REGL or VYM?
REGL has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: REGL -36.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both REGL and VYM?
REGL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between REGL and VYM?
At least 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings REGL also owns. Our book for REGL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in REGL and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, REGL or VYM?
REGL yields 2.16% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than REGL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. REGL led over the full window, VYM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.