SIO vs VYM
Touchstone Strategic Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SIO or VYM?
Intermediate 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 | SIO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $295M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.53% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 205 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.59% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.86% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.13% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.6%Best | 13.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.3%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $12,591 | $17,686Best |
| Fund Family | Touchstone Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 21, 2022 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 25, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.1 years).
SIO 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 4.1 years both funds cover.
SIO vs VYM Performance
Touchstone Strategic Income ETF (SIO) is an ETF from Touchstone Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SIO returned +2.86% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SIO is up 0.59% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, SIO compounded at +7.13% per year against +18.64% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +14.92% annualized vs +5.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 5.6% for SIO. 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 -7.3% for SIO 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SIO charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SIO currently yields 7.53% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 12.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SIO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SIO, our book for it covers 36.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and SIO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, SIO as of Aug 19, 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.
10 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SIO and 602 in VYM, against full books of 205 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SIO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAt&t, Inc. | 4.85% | 0.58% | 4.27% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.18% | 2.54% | 2.36% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp | 0.16% | 2.36% | 2.20% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 0.59% | 1.17% | 0.58% |
| BACBank Of America Corp Preferred Stock 6.5 | 0.19% | 1.56% | 1.37% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 0.58% | 1.15% | 0.57% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 0.14% | 1.13% | 0.99% |
| IBMIntl Business Machines Corp | 0.15% | 1.10% | 0.95% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.18% | 0.42% | 0.24% |
| SWKStanley Black & Decker Inc. | 0.25% | 0.06% | 0.19% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SIO 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, SIO or VYM?
SIO has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SIO or VYM?
Over the past year SIO returned +2.86% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SIO annualized +5.78% vs +14.92% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SIO or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 5.6% for SIO. Worst drawdown: SIO -7.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SIO and VYM?
SIO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 SIO and VYM?
At least 12.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SIO also owns. Our book for SIO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in SIO and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SIO or VYM?
SIO yields 7.53% while VYM yields 2.24%, so SIO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SIO?
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.