SMMU vs VYM
PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SMMU or VYM?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
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 | SMMU | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 338 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.67% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.31% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.34% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.82% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.1%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,944 | $17,758Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 3, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16.6 years).
SMMU 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.
SMMU vs VYM Performance
PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund (SMMU) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMMU returned +1.31% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SMMU is up 0.67% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, SMMU compounded at +3.34% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.82% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.30% annualized vs +0.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 1.6% for SMMU. 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 -5.1% for SMMU 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 0.21. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMMU charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMMU currently yields 2.88% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 208 holdings in SMMU and 603 in VYM, totalling 49.3% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SMMU 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 208 positions we hold weights for in SMMU and 603 in VYM, against full books of 338 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMMU 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, SMMU or VYM?
SMMU has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMMU or VYM?
Over the past year SMMU returned +1.31% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SMMU annualized +0.74% vs +10.30% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMMU or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 1.6% for SMMU. Worst drawdown: SMMU -5.1% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SMMU and VYM?
SMMU and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.21, 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, SMMU or VYM?
SMMU yields 2.88% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SMMU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SMMU?
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.