SPYD vs VYM
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SPYD or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPYD is less concentrated, with 14.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | SPYD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $7.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.09% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 81 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.60%Best | +12.87% |
| 1Y Return | +14.52% | +17.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.72% | +17.66%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.55% | +11.98%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.8% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.3% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,071 | $17,608Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.7%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2015 to Sep 15, 2026 (10.9 years).
SPYD 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 10.9 years both funds cover.
SPYD vs VYM Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPYD returned +14.52% while VYM returned +17.25%. Year to date, SPYD is up 13.60% versus a gain of 12.87% for VYM.
Over three years, SPYD compounded at +14.72% per year against +17.66% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +8.55% and +11.98% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.93% annualized vs +6.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPYD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.8% compared with 13.8% 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 -47.3% for SPYD 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPYD charges 0.07% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $4 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPYD currently yields 4.09% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
69.7% of SPYD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.8% of VYM's money is in holdings SPYD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
55 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in SPYD and 557 in VYM, against full books of 81 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 473 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SPYD (84.2% of the fund), and 24 for SPYD that do not appear in VYM (28.7%).
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 SPYD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.37% | 1.48% | 0.11% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.42% | 0.80% | 0.62% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.42% | 0.64% | 0.78% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 1.29% | 0.77% | 0.52% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 1.44% | 0.58% | 0.86% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 1.38% | 0.54% | 0.84% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.41% | 0.44% | 0.97% |
| BXBlackstone Group Inc. Class A | 1.40% | 0.39% | 1.01% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | 1.49% | 0.27% | 1.22% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 1.40% | 0.34% | 1.06% |
69.7% of SPYD 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, SPYD or VYM?
SPYD has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPYD or VYM?
Over the past year SPYD returned +14.52% vs +17.25% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SPYD annualized +6.78% vs +9.93% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPYD or VYM?
SPYD has been the more volatile fund at 17.8% annualized versus 13.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SPYD -47.3% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SPYD and VYM?
SPYD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPYD and VYM?
69.7% of SPYD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.8% of VYM's is in holdings SPYD also owns. They hold 55 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in SPYD and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPYD or VYM?
SPYD yields 4.09% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SPYD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SPYD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPYD is less concentrated, with 14.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.