SVAL vs VYM
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SVAL or VYM?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. SVAL is less concentrated, with 6.8% 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 | SVAL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $213M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.05% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 262 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +26.47%Best | +14.33% |
| 1Y Return | +29.53%Best | +20.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.52%Best | +18.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.26% | +12.16%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 13.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.4% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,296 | $17,750Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.8%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 27, 2020 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 29, 2020 to Sep 8, 2026 (5.9 years).
SVAL 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
SVAL vs VYM Performance
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SVAL returned +29.53% while VYM returned +20.01%. Year to date, SVAL is up 26.47% versus a gain of 14.33% for VYM.
Over three years, SVAL compounded at +19.52% per year against +18.43% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +10.26% and +12.16% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SVAL has the edge at +17.16% annualized vs +16.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 13.9% 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 -27.4% for SVAL and -15.8% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SVAL 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, SVAL currently yields 2.05% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
18.1% of SVAL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.6% of VYM's money is in holdings SVAL also owns.
SVAL and VYM share little of their money.
47 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 262 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 524 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SVAL (96.6% of the fund), and 180 for SVAL that do not appear in VYM (77.2%).
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 SVAL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCSCentury Communities Inc | 0.48% | 0.01% | 0.47% |
| KFYKorn Ferry | 0.47% | 0.01% | 0.46% |
| SRCE1St Source Corp_None_0 | 0.46% | 0.01% | 0.45% |
| ABMAbm Industries Inc | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| ATKRAtkore Inc. | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| IOSPInnospec Inc.(iosp) | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| LZBLa-z-boy Inc Common | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| WSBCWesBanco Inc | 0.44% | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| VSHVishay Intertechnology Inc | 0.43% | 0.03% | 0.40% |
| CWTCalifornia Water Service Group | 0.44% | 0.01% | 0.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SVAL 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, SVAL or VYM?
SVAL 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.
Which performed better, SVAL or VYM?
Over the past year SVAL returned +29.53% vs +20.01% for VYM, so SVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SVAL annualized +17.16% vs +16.22% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SVAL or VYM?
SVAL has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 13.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SVAL -27.4% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both SVAL and VYM?
SVAL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SVAL and VYM?
18.1% of SVAL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.6% of VYM's is in holdings SVAL also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SVAL or VYM?
SVAL yields 2.05% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SVAL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. SVAL is less concentrated, with 6.8% 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.