SMRI vs VYM
Bushido Capital US Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SMRI or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SMRI led over 1Y and the full window. SMRI is less concentrated, with 25.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | SMRI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $720M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.78% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 52 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +31.43%Best | +13.15% |
| 1Y Return | +40.03%Best | +17.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 10.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.1% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $18,464Best | $15,337 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.5%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Bushido Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 14, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 7, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.6 years).
SMRI 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
SMRI vs VYM Performance
Bushido Capital US Equity ETF (SMRI) is an ETF from Bushido Capital and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMRI returned +40.03% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, SMRI is up 31.43% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 10.4% 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 -18.1% for SMRI 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMRI charges 0.71% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $4 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMRI currently yields 0.78% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
48.5% of SMRI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.4% of VYM's money is in holdings SMRI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, SMRI as of Aug 31, 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.
25 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in SMRI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 52 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 543 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SMRI (88.1% of the fund), and 25 for SMRI that do not appear in VYM (49.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SMRI | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 1.90% | 2.36% | 0.46% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 2.05% | 1.32% | 0.73% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 2.49% | 0.31% | 2.18% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 2.47% | 0.32% | 2.15% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp. | 2.42% | 0.32% | 2.10% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.38% | 0.28% | 2.10% |
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 2.14% | 0.41% | 1.73% |
| COPConocophillips Co | 2.00% | 0.53% | 1.47% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.15% | 0.37% | 1.78% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 2.15% | 0.13% | 2.02% |
48.5% of SMRI is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SMRI or VYM?
SMRI has an expense ratio of 0.71% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMRI or VYM?
Over the past year SMRI returned +40.03% vs +17.82% for VYM, so SMRI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMRI or VYM?
SMRI has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 10.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SMRI -18.1% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SMRI and VYM?
SMRI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 SMRI and VYM?
48.5% of SMRI's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.4% of VYM's is in holdings SMRI also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in SMRI and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMRI or VYM?
SMRI yields 0.78% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SMRI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SMRI led over 1Y and the full window. SMRI is less concentrated, with 25.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.