ROUS vs VYM
Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ROUS or VYM?
ROUS has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ROUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. ROUS is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | ROUS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $744M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.31% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 325 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.63%Best | +11.71% |
| 1Y Return | +19.99%Best | +16.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.02%Best | +17.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.91%Best | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.5%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,553Best | $17,514 |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.9%Best | 26.1% |
| 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 16, 2026 (11.6 years).
ROUS 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 11.6 years both funds cover.
ROUS vs VYM Performance
Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF (ROUS) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ROUS returned +19.99% while VYM returned +16.24%. Year to date, ROUS is up 15.63% versus a gain of 11.71% for VYM.
Over three years, ROUS compounded at +19.02% per year against +17.24% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.91% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, ROUS has the edge at +9.74% annualized vs +8.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% 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 -35.5% for ROUS 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROUS charges 0.19% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $4 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ROUS currently yields 1.31% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
52.0% of ROUS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 63.0% of VYM's money is in holdings ROUS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
174 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in ROUS and 557 in VYM, against full books of 325 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 355 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ROUS (34.4% of the fund), and 142 for ROUS that do not appear in VYM (47.0%).
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 ROUS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.36% | 7.35% | 6.99% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.94% | 2.51% | 1.57% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.25% | 1.86% | 0.61% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.44% | 2.63% | 2.19% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.18% | 1.31% | 0.13% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.26% | 1.80% | 1.54% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.47% | 1.52% | 1.05% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 1.26% | 0.50% | 0.76% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.95% | 0.80% | 0.15% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.20% | 1.50% | 1.30% |
63.0% of VYM is already inside ROUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ROUS or VYM?
ROUS has an expense ratio of 0.19% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ROUS or VYM?
Over the past year ROUS returned +19.99% vs +16.24% for VYM, so ROUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ROUS annualized +9.74% vs +8.86% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROUS or VYM?
ROUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ROUS -35.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both ROUS and VYM?
ROUS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 ROUS and VYM?
63.0% of VYM's money is in holdings ROUS also owns. 63.0% of VYM's is in holdings ROUS also owns. They hold 174 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in ROUS and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ROUS or VYM?
ROUS yields 1.31% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ROUS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ROUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. ROUS is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.