RWR vs VYM
State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RWR or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%.
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 | RWR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.26% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 101 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.06% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.83% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.78% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.42% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.5% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,831 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.2% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 23, 2001 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.8 years).
RWR 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
RWR vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RWR returned +13.83% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, RWR is up 13.06% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, RWR compounded at +10.78% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +3.42% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.91% annualized vs +2.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RWR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 14.5% 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 -77.0% for RWR and -58.8% 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
RWR charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RWR currently yields 3.26% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 98 holdings in RWR and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.9% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in RWR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 101 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 98 and 603 positions we hold weights for.
VYM holds 568 positions RWR does not, 97.5% of the fund.
Largest: AVGO 7.29%, JPM 3.38%, JNJ 2.54%, XOM 2.36%, CAT 2.01%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RWR 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, RWR or VYM?
RWR has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RWR or VYM?
Over the past year RWR returned +13.83% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), RWR annualized +2.15% vs +6.91% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RWR or VYM?
RWR has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RWR -77.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both RWR and VYM?
RWR 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, RWR or VYM?
RWR yields 3.26% while VYM yields 2.22%, so RWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RWR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.