RFLR vs VYM
Innovator US Small Cap Managed Floor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RFLR or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y 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 | RFLR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.59% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 841 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.33% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.02% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2% | 10.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.5% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $12,939 | $13,547Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2 years).
RFLR 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 2 years both funds cover.
RFLR vs VYM Performance
Innovator US Small Cap Managed Floor ETF (RFLR) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RFLR returned +17.02% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, RFLR is up 12.33% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.2% compared with 10.4% 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 -15.5% for RFLR 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFLR charges 0.89% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $4 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFLR currently yields 0.59% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RFLR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RFLR, our book for it covers 90.3% 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 RFLR share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, RFLR as of Sep 1, 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.
138 positions in common, counted across the 770 positions we hold weights for in RFLR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 841 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RFLR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMSm Energy Co | 0.40% | 0.03% | 0.37% |
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.40% | 0.01% | 0.39% |
| PBFPbf Energy Inc-class A | 0.34% | 0.02% | 0.32% |
| FBP:PRFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 0.31% | 0.02% | 0.29% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.27% | 0.01% | 0.26% |
| AVTAvnet Inc | 0.25% | 0.03% | 0.22% |
| OGNOrganon & Co | 0.26% | 0.01% | 0.25% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings Inc | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| FULTFulton Financial Corp | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| VSHVishay Intertechnology Inc | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RFLR 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, RFLR or VYM?
RFLR has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFLR or VYM?
Over the past year RFLR returned +17.02% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RFLR annualized +13.75% vs +16.39% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFLR or VYM?
RFLR has been the more volatile fund at 11.2% annualized versus 10.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RFLR -15.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both RFLR and VYM?
RFLR 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 RFLR and VYM?
At least 1.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RFLR also owns. Our book for RFLR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 138 positions in common, counted across the 770 positions we hold weights for in RFLR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFLR or VYM?
RFLR yields 0.59% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RFLR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.