SAWG vs VYM
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SAWG 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 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.4%.
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 | SAWG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.25% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 45 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +9.08% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.18% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0% | 10.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,747 | $13,776Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWG 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SAWG vs VYM Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWG) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAWG returned +12.18% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SAWG is up 9.08% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 10.0% 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 -18.7% for SAWG 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWG charges 0.49% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $4 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWG currently yields 0.25% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
21.2% of SAWG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 72.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SAWG also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside SAWG. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SAWG as of Aug 17, 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.
186 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 603 in VYM, against full books of 45 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 384 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SAWG (25.6% of the fund), and 278 for SAWG that do not appear in VYM (51.5%).
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 SAWG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.06% | 7.29% | 5.23% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.13% | 3.38% | 2.25% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.74% | 2.54% | 1.80% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.79% | 2.36% | 1.57% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.48% | 2.01% | 1.53% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.52% | 1.93% | 1.41% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.52% | 1.85% | 1.33% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 0.51% | 1.56% | 1.05% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.42% | 1.56% | 1.14% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.40% | 1.46% | 1.06% |
72.1% of VYM is already inside SAWG.
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, SAWG or VYM?
SAWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWG or VYM?
Over the past year SAWG returned +12.18% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWG annualized +12.25% vs +16.48% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWG or VYM?
SAWG has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 10.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SAWG -18.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SAWG and VYM?
SAWG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 SAWG and VYM?
72.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SAWG also owns. 72.1% of VYM's is in holdings SAWG also owns. They hold 186 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWG or VYM?
SAWG yields 0.25% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SAWG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.