RPAR vs VYM
RPAR Risk Parity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RPAR or VYM?
Debt-oriented 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 | RPAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $581M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.37% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 138 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.50% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.17% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.14% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.50% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -30.2%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,253 | $17,750Best |
| Fund Family | Rpar ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 12, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.7 years).
RPAR 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 6.7 years both funds cover.
RPAR vs VYM Performance
RPAR Risk Parity ETF (RPAR) is an ETF from Rpar ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RPAR returned +8.17% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, RPAR is up 3.50% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, RPAR compounded at +9.14% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +0.50% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +11.17% annualized vs +3.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 13.3% for RPAR. 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 -30.2% for RPAR 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
RPAR charges 0.52% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $4 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RPAR currently yields 2.37% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RPAR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RPAR, our book for it covers 52.4% 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 RPAR share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 52 days apart, RPAR as of Aug 21, 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.
21 positions in common, counted across the 130 positions we hold weights for in RPAR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 138 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RPAR | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.33% | 2.36% | 1.03% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 0.78% | 1.28% | 0.50% |
| COPConocophillips Co | 0.29% | 0.53% | 0.24% |
| SCCOSouthern Copper Corp | 0.64% | 0.07% | 0.57% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 0.18% | 0.29% | 0.11% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 0.14% | 0.19% | 0.05% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy Inc. | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.00% |
| OXYOccidental Petroleum Corp. | 0.13% | 0.15% | 0.02% |
| CFCf Industries Holdings Inc. | 0.14% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| EQTEqt Corp | 0.07% | 0.13% | 0.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RPAR 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, RPAR or VYM?
RPAR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RPAR or VYM?
Over the past year RPAR returned +8.17% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), RPAR annualized +3.75% vs +11.17% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RPAR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 13.3% for RPAR. Worst drawdown: RPAR -30.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both RPAR and VYM?
RPAR 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.
What is the holdings overlap between RPAR and VYM?
At least 5.9% of VYM's money is in holdings RPAR also owns. Our book for RPAR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 130 positions we hold weights for in RPAR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RPAR or VYM?
RPAR yields 2.37% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RPAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RPAR?
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.