SPLG vs VYM
SPDR(R) Portfolio S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SPLG or VYM?
SPLG has been ahead.
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. SPLG led over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.5%.
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 | SPLG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.04% |
| AUM | - | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | - | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 506 | 613 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.8%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 19 years | $49,914Best | $32,212 |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.5% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | - | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | - | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | - | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 320 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPLG has data through Oct 30, 2025 and VYM through Sep 15, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 19 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Oct 30, 2025 (19 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% 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 -55.8% for SPLG 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPLG charges 0.02% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period.
Holdings Overlap
36.0% of SPLG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 89.3% of VYM's money is in holdings SPLG also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside SPLG. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 396 days apart, SPLG as of Jun 30, 2025 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.
253 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPLG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 506 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 274 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SPLG (7.7% of the fund), and 251 for SPLG that do not appear in VYM (64.0%).
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 SPLG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.46% | 7.35% | 4.89% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.53% | 3.82% | 2.29% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.88% | 2.63% | 1.75% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.70% | 2.51% | 1.81% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.62% | 1.80% | 1.18% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.53% | 1.86% | 1.33% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.59% | 1.66% | 1.07% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.71% | 1.37% | 0.66% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.54% | 1.52% | 0.98% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.69% | 1.34% | 0.65% |
89.3% of VYM is already inside SPLG.
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, SPLG or VYM?
SPLG has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VYM charges 0.04%. SPLG is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPLG or VYM?
SPLG has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 14.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SPLG -55.8% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both SPLG and VYM?
SPLG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 SPLG and VYM?
89.3% of VYM's money is in holdings SPLG also owns. 89.3% of VYM's is in holdings SPLG also owns. They hold 253 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPLG and 557 in VYM.
Is VYM better than SPLG?
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. SPLG led over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.