SCUS vs VYM
Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SCUS or VYM?
Ultrashort Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
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 | SCUS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.14% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $258M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.86% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 150 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +2.23% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.54% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.7%Best | 10.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.4%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $10,874 | $14,214Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Ultrashort Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 13, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.1 years).
SCUS 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.
SCUS vs VYM Performance
Schwab Ultra-Short Income ETF (SCUS) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCUS returned +3.54% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SCUS is up 2.23% 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 10.2% compared with 0.7% for SCUS. 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 -0.4% for SCUS 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 0.17. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCUS charges 0.14% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $14 vs $4 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCUS currently yields 3.86% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SCUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SCUS, our book for it covers 31.9% 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 SCUS share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 65 positions we hold weights for in SCUS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 150 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCUS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACBank Of America N/A | 0.34% | 1.56% | 1.22% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCUS 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, SCUS or VYM?
SCUS has an expense ratio of 0.14% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCUS or VYM?
Over the past year SCUS returned +3.54% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SCUS annualized +4.07% vs +18.23% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCUS or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 0.7% for SCUS. Worst drawdown: SCUS -0.4% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SCUS and VYM?
SCUS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.17, 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 SCUS and VYM?
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SCUS also owns. Our book for SCUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 65 positions we hold weights for in SCUS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCUS or VYM?
SCUS yields 3.86% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SCUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SCUS?
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.