SDOG vs VYM
ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SDOG or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SDOG led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | SDOG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.26% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 51 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +20.79%Best | +13.08% |
| 1Y Return | +25.19%Best | +17.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.13%Best | +17.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.30% | +12.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,080 | $17,797Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.9%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2012 to Sep 14, 2026 (14.2 years).
SDOG 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
SDOG vs VYM Performance
ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (SDOG) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SDOG returned +25.19% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, SDOG is up 20.79% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, SDOG compounded at +18.13% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.30% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.14% annualized vs +9.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 13.1% 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 -46.4% for SDOG and -35.7% 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDOG charges 0.36% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $4 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDOG currently yields 3.26% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
97.3% of SDOG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 16.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SDOG also owns.
Most of SDOG is already inside VYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
49 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SDOG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 51 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SDOG (80.6% of the fund), and 1 for SDOG that do not appear in VYM (2.1%).
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 SDOG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 2.15% | 1.80% | 0.35% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.37% | 1.31% | 1.06% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.11% | 1.48% | 0.63% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.99% | 0.80% | 1.19% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.24% | 0.54% | 1.70% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 2.17% | 0.60% | 1.57% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 2.10% | 0.64% | 1.46% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.65% | 1.02% | 0.63% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.08% | 0.58% | 1.50% |
| GPCGenuine Parts Co. | 2.50% | 0.07% | 2.43% |
97.3% of SDOG is already inside VYM.
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, SDOG or VYM?
SDOG has an expense ratio of 0.36% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDOG or VYM?
Over the past year SDOG returned +25.19% vs +17.46% for VYM, so SDOG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SDOG annualized +9.28% vs +10.14% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDOG or VYM?
SDOG has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SDOG -46.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SDOG and VYM?
SDOG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SDOG and VYM?
97.3% of SDOG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 16.6% of VYM's is in holdings SDOG also owns. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SDOG and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDOG or VYM?
SDOG yields 3.26% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SDOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SDOG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SDOG led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.