SQS vs VYM
Sapient Quality Select ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SQS or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | SQS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 37 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.14% | +13.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +19.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Sapient Capital, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 13, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SQS 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.
SQS vs VYM Performance
Sapient Quality Select ETF (SQS) is an ETF from Sapient Capital, LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, SQS is up 11.14% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SQS charges 0.80% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $4 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SQS currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
17.8% of SQS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 16.1% of VYM's money is in holdings SQS also owns.
SQS and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, SQS as of Aug 18, 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.
8 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in SQS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 37 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 560 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SQS (81.4% of the fund), and 26 for SQS that do not appear in VYM (78.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SQS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.10% | 7.29% | 3.19% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 3.40% | 3.38% | 0.02% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 2.06% | 1.56% | 0.50% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 1.72% | 1.28% | 0.44% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 1.82% | 1.15% | 0.67% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.77% | 1.05% | 0.72% |
| MTBM&t Bank Corp. | 1.58% | 0.15% | 1.43% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 1.36% | 0.26% | 1.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SQS 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, SQS or VYM?
SQS has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between SQS and VYM?
17.8% of SQS's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 16.1% of VYM's is in holdings SQS also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in SQS and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SQS or VYM?
SQS yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SQS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.