RLTY vs VYM
Cohen & Steers Real Estate Opportunities and Income Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RLTY or VYM?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | RLTY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.19% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $260M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.85% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 232 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.32% | +12.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.73% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.08% | +17.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.2% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.4% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.6 years | $10,964 | $17,128Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 24, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Sep 17, 2026 (4.6 years).
RLTY 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 4.6 years both funds cover.
RLTY vs VYM Performance
Cohen & Steers Real Estate Opportunities and Income Fund (RLTY) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RLTY returned +2.73% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, RLTY is up 6.32% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Over three years, RLTY compounded at +12.08% per year against +17.42% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RLTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.2% compared with 13.8% 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 -35.4% for RLTY and -15.8% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RLTY charges 1.19% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $119 vs $4 annually, a gap of $115 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RLTY currently yields 7.85% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.8% of VYM's money is in holdings RLTY also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for RLTY, our book for it lists positions totalling 138.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VYM and RLTY share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RLTY 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in RLTY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 232 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RLTY and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RLTY or VYM?
RLTY has an expense ratio of 1.19% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $115 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RLTY or VYM?
Over the past year RLTY returned +2.73% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RLTY or VYM?
RLTY has been the more volatile fund at 23.2% annualized versus 13.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RLTY -35.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both RLTY and VYM?
RLTY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 RLTY and VYM?
At least 1.8% of VYM's money is in holdings RLTY also owns. Our book for RLTY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in RLTY and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RLTY or VYM?
RLTY yields 7.85% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RLTY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RLTY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.