TAX vs VYM
Cambria Tax Aware ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TAX or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. TAX is less concentrated, with 16.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | TAX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 200 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +7.04% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.56% | +13.75%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7% | 10.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,686 | $12,969Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.3%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.8 years).
TAX 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
TAX vs VYM Performance
Cambria Tax Aware ETF (TAX) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TAX returned +10.56% while VYM returned +13.75%. Year to date, TAX is up 7.04% versus a gain of 10.00% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 10.3% 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 -18.9% for TAX and -14.5% 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
TAX charges 0.54% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $4 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TAX currently yields 0.32% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
2.6% of TAX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.9% of VYM's money is in holdings TAX also owns.
TAX and VYM share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in TAX and 557 in VYM, against full books of 200 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 525 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for TAX (96.2% of the fund), and 94 for TAX that do not appear in VYM (95.0%).
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 TAX 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, TAX or VYM?
TAX has an expense ratio of 0.54% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TAX or VYM?
Over the past year TAX returned +10.56% vs +13.75% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), TAX annualized +14.13% vs +15.54% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TAX or VYM?
TAX has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 10.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: TAX -18.9% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both TAX and VYM?
TAX 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 TAX and VYM?
2.6% of TAX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.9% of VYM's is in holdings TAX also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in TAX and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, TAX or VYM?
TAX yields 0.32% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TAX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. TAX is less concentrated, with 16.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.