SURE vs VYM
AdvisorShares Insider Advantage ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SURE or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SURE led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SURE is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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 | SURE | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.90% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $58M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.87% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 102 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +17.69%Best | +14.82% |
| 1Y Return | +22.59%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.89% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.71% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7%Tie | -35.7%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,632 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.8%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Advisor Shares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 4, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 5, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.9 years).
SURE 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
SURE vs VYM Performance
AdvisorShares Insider Advantage ETF (SURE) is an ETF from Advisor Shares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SURE returned +22.59% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SURE is up 17.69% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, SURE compounded at +16.89% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.71% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SURE has the edge at +13.33% annualized vs +11.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SURE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 12.9% 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 -35.7% for SURE 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SURE charges 0.90% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $90 vs $4 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SURE currently yields 0.87% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
24.5% of SURE's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.5% of VYM's money is in holdings SURE also owns.
SURE and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SURE as of Aug 17, 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.
25 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in SURE and 602 in VYM, against full books of 102 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 546 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SURE (88.1% of the fund), and 73 for SURE that do not appear in VYM (72.4%).
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 SURE | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp | 1.02% | 2.36% | 1.34% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.13% | 2.01% | 0.88% |
| CVXChevron Corp.United States -Energy | 0.82% | 1.28% | 0.46% |
| QCOMQualcomm | 1.01% | 0.81% | 0.20% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 1.46% | 0.31% | 1.15% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp | 1.19% | 0.32% | 0.87% |
| COPConocophillips Co | 0.93% | 0.53% | 0.40% |
| IRDMIridium Communications Inc | 1.41% | 0.02% | 1.39% |
| ELV:BRElevance Health, Inc. | 1.08% | 0.34% | 0.74% |
| ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. | 0.97% | 0.32% | 0.65% |
24.5% of SURE 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, SURE or VYM?
SURE has an expense ratio of 0.90% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SURE or VYM?
Over the past year SURE returned +22.59% vs +20.84% for VYM, so SURE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SURE annualized +13.33% vs +11.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SURE or VYM?
SURE has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 12.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SURE -35.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SURE and VYM?
SURE and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 SURE and VYM?
24.5% of SURE's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.5% of VYM's is in holdings SURE also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in SURE and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SURE or VYM?
SURE yields 0.87% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SURE?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SURE led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SURE is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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.