RUSC vs VYM
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RUSC or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% 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 | RUSC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $80M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 490 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.73%Best | +9.40% |
| 1Y Return | +19.89%Best | +13.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 10.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,762Best | $12,705 |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.0%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026 (1.4 years).
RUSC 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
RUSC vs VYM Performance
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RUSC returned +19.89% while VYM returned +13.45%. Year to date, RUSC is up 15.73% versus a gain of 9.40% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 10.1% 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 -9.2% for RUSC and -6.7% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RUSC charges 0.64% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $4 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RUSC currently yields 0.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.6% of RUSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings RUSC also owns.
RUSC and VYM share little of their money.
61 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 557 in VYM, against full books of 490 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 469 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for RUSC (95.6% of the fund), and 317 for RUSC that do not appear in VYM (67.0%).
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 RUSC | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VACMarriott Vacations Worldwide Corp | 0.42% | 0.01% | 0.41% |
| MLKNHerman Miller Inc | 0.37% | 0.01% | 0.36% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.35% | 0.03% | 0.32% |
| RHIRobert Half International Inc. | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.26% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.26% |
| CPKChesapeake Utilities Corp | 0.26% | 0.01% | 0.25% |
| GBCIGlacier Bancorp Inc | 0.24% | 0.03% | 0.21% |
| UGIUgi Corp | 0.24% | 0.03% | 0.21% |
| TKRTimken Co | 0.23% | 0.04% | 0.19% |
| RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 0.20% | 0.06% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RUSC 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, RUSC or VYM?
RUSC has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RUSC or VYM?
Over the past year RUSC returned +19.89% vs +13.45% for VYM, so RUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +25.62% vs +18.65% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RUSC or VYM?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 10.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RUSC -9.2% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both RUSC and VYM?
RUSC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 RUSC and VYM?
10.6% of RUSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.5% of VYM's is in holdings RUSC also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or VYM?
RUSC yields 0.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RUSC?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% 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.