SKYY vs VYM
First Trust Cloud Computing ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SKYY or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SKYY led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.0%.
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 | SKYY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3.3B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 128 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +22.57%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +16.27% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.26%Best | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.56% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.6% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,396 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.0% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 6, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 6, 2011 to Sep 10, 2026 (15.2 years).
SKYY 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 15.2 years both funds cover.
SKYY vs VYM Performance
First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (SKYY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SKYY returned +16.27% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, SKYY is up 22.57% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, SKYY compounded at +24.26% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.56% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SKYY has the edge at +14.71% annualized vs +9.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SKYY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.6% compared with 13.0% 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 -53.2% for SKYY 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SKYY charges 0.60% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $4 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SKYY currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
11.9% of SKYY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.0% of VYM's money is in holdings SKYY also owns.
SKYY and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, SKYY as of Sep 1, 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in SKYY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 128 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 562 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SKYY (92.5% of the fund), and 51 for SKYY that do not appear in VYM (78.8%).
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 SKYY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.95% | 1.93% | 0.02% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 2.51% | 1.10% | 1.41% |
| ORCLOracle Corp. | 2.11% | 1.04% | 1.07% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc. | 1.73% | 0.54% | 1.19% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 1.94% | 0.25% | 1.69% |
| NTAPNetapp Inc. | 1.70% | 0.13% | 1.57% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SKYY 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, SKYY or VYM?
SKYY has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SKYY or VYM?
Over the past year SKYY returned +16.27% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SKYY annualized +14.71% vs +9.85% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SKYY or VYM?
SKYY has been the more volatile fund at 21.6% annualized versus 13.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SKYY -53.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SKYY and VYM?
SKYY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 SKYY and VYM?
11.9% of SKYY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.0% of VYM's is in holdings SKYY also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in SKYY and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SKYY or VYM?
SKYY yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SKYY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SKYY led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.