SILJ vs VYM
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SILJ or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%.
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 | SILJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 138 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.41%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +73.16%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +52.22%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.39%Best | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 48.0% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,257Best | $17,845 |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.3% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2012 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2012 to Sep 4, 2026 (13.8 years).
SILJ 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 13.8 years both funds cover.
SILJ vs VYM Performance
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SILJ returned +73.16% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SILJ is up 15.41% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, SILJ compounded at +52.22% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +19.39% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.35% annualized vs +4.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SILJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 48.0% compared with 13.2% 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 -79.0% for SILJ 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SILJ charges 0.69% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $4 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SILJ currently yields 2.30% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 66 holdings in SILJ and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 66 positions we hold weights for in SILJ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 138 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SILJ (97.4% of the fund), and 9 for SILJ that do not appear in VYM (24.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SILJ 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, SILJ or VYM?
SILJ has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SILJ or VYM?
Over the past year SILJ returned +73.16% vs +20.84% for VYM, so SILJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SILJ annualized +4.01% vs +10.35% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SILJ or VYM?
SILJ has been the more volatile fund at 48.0% annualized versus 13.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SILJ -79.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SILJ and VYM?
SILJ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, SILJ or VYM?
SILJ yields 2.30% while VYM yields 2.24%, so SILJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SILJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.