SQLT vs VYM
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SQLT or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%.
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 | SQLT | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.48% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 1,021 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +10.79% | +16.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +18.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.54% |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.9%Best | 25.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SQLT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SQLT vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF (SQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, SQLT is up 10.79% versus a gain of 16.00% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SQLT charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SQLT currently yields 0.48% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
29.0% of SQLT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SQLT also owns.
SQLT and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, SQLT as of Oct 16, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
118 positions in common, counted across the 486 positions we hold weights for in SQLT and 602 in VYM, against full books of 1,021 and 610.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 463 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SQLT (96.0% of the fund), and 362 for SQLT that do not appear in VYM (70.4%).
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 SQLT | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 1.19% | 0.03% | 1.16% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.82% | 0.07% | 0.75% |
| JKHYJack Henry & Associates Inc. | 0.65% | 0.05% | 0.60% |
| PRPermian Resource | 0.63% | 0.07% | 0.56% |
| SEICSei Investments Co. | 0.63% | 0.05% | 0.58% |
| OVVOvintiv Inc. | 0.60% | 0.07% | 0.53% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.57% | 0.06% | 0.51% |
| FDSFactset Research Systems Inc. | 0.57% | 0.05% | 0.52% |
| OTTROtter Tail Corp. | 0.56% | 0.01% | 0.55% |
| TXRHTexas Roadhouse Inc | 0.51% | 0.05% | 0.46% |
29.0% of SQLT 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, SQLT or VYM?
SQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between SQLT and VYM?
29.0% of SQLT's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.6% of VYM's is in holdings SQLT also owns. They hold 118 positions in common, counted across the 486 positions we hold weights for in SQLT and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SQLT or VYM?
SQLT yields 0.48% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SQLT?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.