SOXY vs VYM
YieldMax Target 12 Semiconductor Option Income ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SOXY or VYM?
Option Writing against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SOXY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%.
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 | SOXY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.06% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $70M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.86% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 86 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +75.80%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +93.60%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.9% | 10.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -30.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $24,336Best | $12,300 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.7% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | YieldMax ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.8 years).
SOXY 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
SOXY vs VYM Performance
YieldMax Target 12 Semiconductor Option Income ETF (SOXY) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SOXY returned +93.60% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, SOXY is up 75.80% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOXY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.9% compared with 10.3% 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 -30.2% for SOXY 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SOXY charges 1.06% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $106 vs $4 annually, a gap of $102 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SOXY currently yields 9.86% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
18.6% of SOXY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SOXY also owns.
SOXY and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, SOXY as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 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 29 positions we hold weights for in SOXY and 557 in VYM, against full books of 86 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 522 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SOXY (86.9% of the fund), and 17 for SOXY that do not appear in VYM (58.9%).
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 SOXY 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, SOXY or VYM?
SOXY has an expense ratio of 1.06% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $102 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SOXY or VYM?
Over the past year SOXY returned +93.60% vs +13.75% for VYM, so SOXY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SOXY annualized +63.90% vs +12.19% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SOXY or VYM?
SOXY has been the more volatile fund at 38.9% annualized versus 10.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SOXY -30.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both SOXY and VYM?
SOXY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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 SOXY and VYM?
18.6% of SOXY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 10.1% of VYM's is in holdings SOXY also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in SOXY and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOXY or VYM?
SOXY yields 9.86% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SOXY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SOXY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SOXY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.