RIV vs VYM
RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc. vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RIV or VYM?
Allocation/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 | RIV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 5.11% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $330M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.76% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 442 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.35% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.89% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.65% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.75% | +12.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,453 | $17,861Best |
| Fund Family | RiverNorth | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 23, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 24, 2015 to Sep 18, 2026 (10.7 years).
RIV 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
RIV vs VYM Performance
RiverNorth Opportunities Fund Inc. (RIV) is an ETF from RiverNorth and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RIV returned +0.89% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, RIV is down 0.35% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, RIV compounded at +11.65% per year against +17.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.75% and +12.30% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.97% annualized vs +0.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RIV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% 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 -55.6% for RIV 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RIV charges 5.11% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $511 vs $4 annually, a gap of $507 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RIV currently yields 11.76% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 259 holdings in RIV and 557 in VYM, totalling 126.1% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, RIV as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 259 positions we hold weights for in RIV and 557 in VYM, against full books of 442 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RIV 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, RIV or VYM?
RIV has an expense ratio of 5.11% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $507 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RIV or VYM?
Over the past year RIV returned +0.89% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), RIV annualized +0.86% vs +9.97% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RIV or VYM?
RIV has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RIV -55.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both RIV and VYM?
RIV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, RIV or VYM?
RIV yields 11.76% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RIV?
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.