SLQD vs VYM
iShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SLQD or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | SLQD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.37% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 3,046 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.59% | +10.24%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.01% | +14.89%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.30% | +18.00%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.54% | +11.42%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.3%Best | 13.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.7%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,336 | $17,172Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2013 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 17, 2013 to Sep 25, 2026 (12.9 years).
SLQD 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SLQD vs VYM Performance
iShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (SLQD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SLQD returned +2.01% while VYM returned +14.89%. Year to date, SLQD is up 0.59% versus a gain of 10.24% for VYM.
Over three years, SLQD compounded at +5.30% per year against +18.00% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.54% and +11.42% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.19% annualized vs +1.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.5% compared with 2.3% for SLQD. 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 -12.7% for SLQD 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLQD charges 0.06% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLQD currently yields 4.37% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings SLQD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SLQD, our book for it covers 54.1% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,336 positions we hold weights for in SLQD and 557 in VYM, against full books of 3,046 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SLQD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.22% | 0.34% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SLQD 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, SLQD or VYM?
SLQD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SLQD or VYM?
Over the past year SLQD returned +2.01% vs +14.89% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SLQD annualized +1.32% vs +9.19% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLQD or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.5% annualized versus 2.3% for SLQD. Worst drawdown: SLQD -12.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SLQD and VYM?
SLQD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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, SLQD or VYM?
SLQD yields 4.37% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SLQD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SLQD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.