RXL vs VYM
ProShares Ultra Health Care vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RXL or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RXL led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | RXL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $97M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 67 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.41%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +47.19%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.17% | +17.78%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.10% | +12.05%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 29.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,225 | $17,663Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 22, 2026 (19.6 years).
RXL 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
RXL vs VYM Performance
ProShares Ultra Health Care (RXL) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RXL returned +47.19% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, RXL is up 15.41% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, RXL compounded at +13.17% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +4.10% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, RXL has the edge at +14.38% annualized vs +6.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.3% compared with 14.6% 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 -69.0% for RXL 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RXL 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, RXL currently yields 1.29% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.0% of VYM's money is in holdings RXL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RXL, our book for it covers 76.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and RXL share little of their money.
20 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in RXL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 67 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RXL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 7.07% | 2.51% | 4.56% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 5.01% | 1.80% | 3.21% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 3.91% | 1.52% | 2.39% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 4.03% | 1.31% | 2.72% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 2.56% | 0.78% | 1.78% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 2.12% | 0.74% | 1.38% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 2.01% | 0.66% | 1.35% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 1.79% | 0.58% | 1.21% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 1.51% | 0.54% | 0.97% |
| CVSCvs Corp | 1.32% | 0.54% | 0.78% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RXL 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, RXL or VYM?
RXL 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, RXL or VYM?
Over the past year RXL returned +47.19% vs +15.42% for VYM, so RXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), RXL annualized +14.38% vs +6.67% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RXL or VYM?
RXL has been the more volatile fund at 29.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RXL -69.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both RXL and VYM?
RXL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 RXL and VYM?
At least 13.0% of VYM's money is in holdings RXL also owns. Our book for RXL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in RXL and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RXL or VYM?
RXL yields 1.29% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RXL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. RXL led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.