SDSI vs VYM
American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SDSI or VYM?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | SDSI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $291M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.75% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 396 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +1.07% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.52% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.49% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.0%Best | 11.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.3%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $12,245 | $18,294Best |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 11, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 13, 2022 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.9 years).
SDSI 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SDSI vs VYM Performance
American Century Short Duration Strategic Income ETF (SDSI) is an ETF from American Century Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SDSI returned +2.52% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SDSI is up 1.07% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, SDSI compounded at +5.49% per year against +18.12% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +16.75% annualized vs +5.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.5% compared with 2.0% for SDSI. 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 -1.3% for SDSI 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDSI charges 0.32% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $4 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDSI currently yields 4.75% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of VYM's money is in holdings SDSI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SDSI, our book for it covers 44.3% 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 48 days apart, SDSI 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 131 positions we hold weights for in SDSI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 396 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SDSI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc V/R /Perp | 0.38% | 0.94% | 0.56% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SDSI 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, SDSI or VYM?
SDSI has an expense ratio of 0.32% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDSI or VYM?
Over the past year SDSI returned +2.52% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SDSI annualized +5.33% vs +16.75% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDSI or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.5% annualized versus 2.0% for SDSI. Worst drawdown: SDSI -1.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SDSI and VYM?
SDSI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, SDSI or VYM?
SDSI yields 4.75% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SDSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SDSI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.