SAWS vs VYM
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SAWS or VYM?
Small 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 28.8%.
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 | SAWS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 75 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.09% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.21% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 9.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.0% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,368 | $13,928Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small 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 4, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWS 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.
SAWS vs VYM Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWS) 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 SAWS returned +11.21% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SAWS is up 11.09% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% 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 -22.0% for SAWS 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWS charges 0.55% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $4 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWS currently yields 0.02% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.0% of SAWS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's money is in holdings SAWS also owns.
SAWS and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SAWS 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.
7 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in SAWS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 75 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 563 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SAWS (97.3% of the fund), and 64 for SAWS that do not appear in VYM (88.0%).
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 SAWS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 2.75% | 0.03% | 2.72% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 1.57% | 0.02% | 1.55% |
| PHINPhinia Inc | 1.51% | 0.01% | 1.50% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 1.48% | 0.04% | 1.44% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 1.39% | 0.01% | 1.38% |
| YOUClear Secure Inc -Class A | 0.71% | 0.02% | 0.69% |
| GATXGATX Corporation | 0.63% | 0.03% | 0.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SAWS 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, SAWS or VYM?
SAWS has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWS or VYM?
Over the past year SAWS returned +11.21% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWS annualized +10.65% vs +17.09% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWS or VYM?
SAWS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 9.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SAWS -22.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SAWS and VYM?
SAWS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 SAWS and VYM?
10.0% of SAWS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.2% of VYM's is in holdings SAWS also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in SAWS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWS or VYM?
SAWS yields 0.02% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SAWS?
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 28.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.