SYSB vs VYM
iShares Systematic Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SYSB or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SYSB | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.62% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 841 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -4.35% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.14% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.02% | +18.12%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.24% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.4%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,482 | $17,758Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 24, 2015 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.5 years).
SYSB 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.
SYSB vs VYM Performance
iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) 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 SYSB returned -4.14% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, SYSB is down 4.35% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, SYSB compounded at +1.02% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -3.24% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.05% annualized vs -1.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 4.6% for SYSB. 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 -22.4% for SYSB 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SYSB charges 0.25% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $4 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SYSB currently yields 4.62% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of VYM's money is in holdings SYSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SYSB, our book for it covers 87.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 645 positions we hold weights for in SYSB and 603 in VYM, against full books of 841 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SYSB 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, SYSB or VYM?
SYSB has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SYSB or VYM?
Over the past year SYSB returned -4.14% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SYSB annualized -1.29% vs +9.05% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SYSB or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 4.6% for SYSB. Worst drawdown: SYSB -22.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both SYSB and VYM?
SYSB and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SYSB or VYM?
SYSB yields 4.62% while VYM yields 2.22%, so SYSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SYSB?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.