RW vs VYM
Rainwater Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RW or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.9%.
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 | RW | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 33 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.01% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.47% | +15.42%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3% | 9.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $9,907 | $12,655Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.9% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Rainwater ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.3 years).
RW 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
RW vs VYM Performance
Rainwater Equity ETF (RW) is an ETF from Rainwater ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RW returned -3.47% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, RW is down 1.01% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 9.5% 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 -17.0% for RW 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RW charges 0.95% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $4 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RW currently yields 0.10% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
11.7% of RW's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.1% of VYM's money is in holdings RW also owns.
RW and VYM share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 557 in VYM, against full books of 33 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 522 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for RW (92.9% of the fund), and 23 for RW that do not appear in VYM (73.3%).
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
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RW 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, RW or VYM?
RW has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RW or VYM?
Over the past year RW returned -3.47% vs +15.42% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RW annualized -0.72% vs +19.86% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RW or VYM?
RW has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 9.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RW -17.0% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both RW and VYM?
RW and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 RW and VYM?
11.7% of RW's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 4.1% of VYM's is in holdings RW also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RW or VYM?
RW yields 0.10% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RW?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.