ROAM vs VYM
Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ROAM or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ROAM led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. ROAM is less concentrated, with 15.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | ROAM | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.44% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $112M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.46% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 350 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +25.35%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +40.51%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.22%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.47% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,210 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.2%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 25, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.5 years).
ROAM 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 11.5 years both funds cover.
ROAM vs VYM Performance
Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF (ROAM) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ROAM returned +40.51% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, ROAM is up 25.35% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, ROAM compounded at +23.22% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.47% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.15% annualized vs +5.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROAM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% 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 -48.6% for ROAM 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROAM charges 0.44% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $44 vs $4 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ROAM currently yields 2.46% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of ROAM's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings ROAM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ROAM as of Aug 17, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 328 positions we hold weights for in ROAM and 603 in VYM, against full books of 350 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 569 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ROAM (97.2% of the fund), and 7 for ROAM that do not appear in VYM (2.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ROAM | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TELTe Connectivity Ltd. | 0.17% | 0.24% | 0.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ROAM 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, ROAM or VYM?
ROAM has an expense ratio of 0.44% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ROAM or VYM?
Over the past year ROAM returned +40.51% vs +20.84% for VYM, so ROAM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ROAM annualized +5.10% vs +9.15% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROAM or VYM?
ROAM has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ROAM -48.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both ROAM and VYM?
ROAM and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, ROAM or VYM?
ROAM yields 2.46% while VYM yields 2.24%, so ROAM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ROAM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ROAM led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. ROAM is less concentrated, with 15.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.