SSPY vs VYM
Stratified LargeCap Index ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SSPY or VYM?
Nearly the same fund. VYM costs less.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SSPY led over the full window, VYM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SSPY is less concentrated, with 8.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | SSPY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $131M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.20% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 507 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +13.15% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.88% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.61% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.18% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.7% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,514 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.7%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Syntax Stratified | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 2, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 2019 to Sep 11, 2026 (7.7 years).
SSPY 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 7.7 years both funds cover.
SSPY vs VYM Performance
Stratified LargeCap Index ETF (SSPY) is an ETF from Syntax Stratified and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SSPY returned +15.88% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SSPY is up 13.15% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, SSPY compounded at +14.61% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.18% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SSPY has the edge at +13.59% annualized vs +12.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SSPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.1% 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 -36.7% for SSPY 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SSPY charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SSPY currently yields 1.20% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
53.9% of SSPY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 88.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SSPY also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside SSPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, SSPY 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.
245 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in SSPY and 603 in VYM, against full books of 507 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 324 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SSPY (9.1% of the fund), and 251 for SSPY that do not appear in VYM (44.4%).
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 SSPY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.33% | 7.29% | 6.96% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.15% | 3.38% | 3.23% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.57% | 2.36% | 1.79% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.30% | 2.54% | 2.24% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.29% | 1.85% | 1.56% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.12% | 2.01% | 1.89% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.15% | 1.93% | 1.78% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 0.87% | 1.10% | 0.23% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.39% | 1.56% | 1.17% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 0.55% | 1.28% | 0.73% |
88.6% of VYM is already inside SSPY.
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, SSPY or VYM?
SSPY has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SSPY or VYM?
Over the past year SSPY returned +15.88% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), SSPY annualized +13.59% vs +12.19% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SSPY or VYM?
SSPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SSPY -36.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SSPY and VYM?
SSPY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 SSPY and VYM?
88.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SSPY also owns. 88.6% of VYM's is in holdings SSPY also owns. They hold 245 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in SSPY and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SSPY or VYM?
SSPY yields 1.20% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SSPY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SSPY led over the full window, VYM over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SSPY is less concentrated, with 8.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.