RVER vs VYM
Trenchless Fund ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RVER or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RVER led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.1%.
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 | RVER | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $157M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.47% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 17 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +16.17%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +14.22% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 9.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -26.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.4 years | $14,588Best | $14,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | River1 Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 3, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.4 years).
RVER 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 2.4 years both funds cover.
RVER vs VYM Performance
Trenchless Fund ETF (RVER) is an ETF from River1 Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RVER returned +14.22% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, RVER is up 16.17% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RVER has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 9.9% 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 -26.2% for RVER 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RVER charges 0.66% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $4 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RVER currently yields 1.47% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
33.3% of RVER's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.5% of VYM's money is in holdings RVER also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, RVER as of Aug 18, 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.
7 positions in common, counted across the 21 positions we hold weights for in RVER and 603 in VYM, against full books of 17 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 561 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for RVER (87.0% of the fund), and 14 for RVER that do not appear in VYM (66.7%).
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
33.3% of RVER is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RVER or VYM?
RVER has an expense ratio of 0.66% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RVER or VYM?
Over the past year RVER returned +14.22% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RVER annualized +17.04% vs +15.97% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RVER or VYM?
RVER has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 9.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RVER -26.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both RVER and VYM?
RVER and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 RVER and VYM?
33.3% of RVER's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.5% of VYM's is in holdings RVER also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 21 positions we hold weights for in RVER and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RVER or VYM?
RVER yields 1.47% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RVER?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RVER led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.