RSBY vs VYM
Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RSBY or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y 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 | RSBY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $57M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.77% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 35 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +20.41%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +10.12% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $9,391 | $13,794Best |
| Fund Family | Return Stacked ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 20, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 21, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.1 years).
RSBY 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
RSBY vs VYM Performance
Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETF (RSBY) is an ETF from Return Stacked ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RSBY returned +10.12% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, RSBY is up 20.41% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RSBY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.7% compared with 10.2% 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 -23.4% for RSBY and -14.5% 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 0.14. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RSBY charges 1.01% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $4 annually, a gap of $97 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RSBY currently yields 1.77% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in RSBY and 603 in VYM, totalling 89.1% and 99.5% 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 50 days apart, RSBY as of Aug 19, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in RSBY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 35 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RSBY 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, RSBY or VYM?
RSBY has an expense ratio of 1.01% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $97 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RSBY or VYM?
Over the past year RSBY returned +10.12% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RSBY annualized -2.95% vs +16.55% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RSBY or VYM?
RSBY has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 10.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RSBY -23.4% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both RSBY and VYM?
RSBY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.14, 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, RSBY or VYM?
RSBY yields 1.77% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RSBY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.