SCEC vs VYM
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SCEC or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | SCEC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $605M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.02% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 355 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -4.58% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.42% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.6%Best | 9.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.8%Best | -11.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $9,973 | $13,203Best |
| Fund Family | Sterling Capital Active ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 14, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 14, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.5 years).
SCEC 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
SCEC vs VYM Performance
Sterling Capital Enhanced Core Bond ETF (SCEC) is an ETF from Sterling Capital Active ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCEC returned -4.42% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SCEC is down 4.58% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.4% compared with 3.6% for SCEC. 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 -5.8% for SCEC and -11.5% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCEC charges 0.39% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $4 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCEC currently yields 5.02% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VYM's money is in holdings SCEC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SCEC, our book for it covers 42.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 52 days apart, SCEC as of Aug 21, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in SCEC and 603 in VYM, against full books of 355 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCEC | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp Preferred Shs Depositoty Receipt Repr 1/100Th Pfd Shs Series M, 5.62%, 06/20/99 | 0.15% | 0.41% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCEC 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, SCEC or VYM?
SCEC has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCEC or VYM?
Over the past year SCEC returned -4.42% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCEC annualized -0.18% vs +20.35% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCEC or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.4% annualized versus 3.6% for SCEC. Worst drawdown: SCEC -5.8% vs VYM -11.5%.
Should I hold both SCEC and VYM?
SCEC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, SCEC or VYM?
SCEC yields 5.02% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SCEC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SCEC?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.