SMOG vs VYM
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SMOG or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SMOG led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | SMOG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 57 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.45% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.13%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.17% | +17.99%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.71% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.5% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.4% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,174 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.8% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 3, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 9, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.3 years).
SMOG 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
SMOG vs VYM Performance
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMOG returned +18.13% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, SMOG is up 4.45% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Over three years, SMOG compounded at +8.17% per year against +17.99% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -1.71% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.64% annualized vs +1.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.5% compared with 14.7% 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 -84.4% for SMOG and -58.8% 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOG charges 0.64% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $4 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOG currently yields 1.56% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.4% of SMOG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings SMOG also owns.
SMOG and VYM share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 603 in VYM, against full books of 57 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 564 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SMOG (96.6% of the fund), and 16 for SMOG that do not appear in VYM (40.6%).
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 SMOG 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, SMOG or VYM?
SMOG has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOG or VYM?
Over the past year SMOG returned +18.13% vs +17.82% for VYM, so SMOG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SMOG annualized +1.61% vs +6.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOG or VYM?
SMOG has been the more volatile fund at 28.5% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SMOG -84.4% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both SMOG and VYM?
SMOG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 SMOG and VYM?
10.4% of SMOG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.8% of VYM's is in holdings SMOG also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOG or VYM?
SMOG yields 1.56% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SMOG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SMOG led over 1Y, VYM over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.