SWZ vs VYM
Total Return Securities Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SWZ or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.1%.
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 | SWZ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.62% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $96M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 27 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -3.85% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.96% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.20% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.69% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.7%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,419 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Total Return Securities Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 27, 1987 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
SWZ 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
SWZ vs VYM Performance
Total Return Securities Fund (SWZ) is an ETF from Total Return Securities Fund and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWZ returned -1.96% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, SWZ is down 3.85% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, SWZ compounded at +7.20% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.69% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs +5.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SWZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -57.7% for SWZ and -58.8% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SWZ charges 1.62% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $162 vs $4 annually, a gap of $158 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SWZ currently yields 0.00% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
7.3% of SWZ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.0% of VYM's money is in holdings SWZ also owns.
SWZ and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, SWZ as of Mar 31, 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 603 in VYM, against full books of 27 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SWZ (96.4% of the fund), and 17 for SWZ that do not appear in VYM (76.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SWZ 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, SWZ or VYM?
SWZ has an expense ratio of 1.62% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $158 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SWZ or VYM?
Over the past year SWZ returned -1.96% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SWZ annualized +5.39% vs +7.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SWZ or VYM?
SWZ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SWZ -57.7% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both SWZ and VYM?
SWZ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 SWZ and VYM?
7.3% of SWZ's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.0% of VYM's is in holdings SWZ also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SWZ or VYM?
SWZ yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SWZ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.