TAXS vs VYM
Northern Trust Short Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TAXS or VYM?
Short Term Municipal Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y 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 | TAXS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $145M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.25% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,734 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +0.56% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.26% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 9.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.8%Best | -6.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,194 | $12,252Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 1, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
TAXS 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
TAXS vs VYM Performance
Northern Trust Short Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TAXS) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TAXS returned +1.26% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, TAXS is up 0.56% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 9.1% compared with 1.6% for TAXS. 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 -0.8% for TAXS and -6.7% 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TAXS charges 0.05% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TAXS currently yields 2.25% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 468 holdings in TAXS and 603 in VYM, totalling 22.4% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 468 positions we hold weights for in TAXS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 1,734 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TAXS 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, TAXS or VYM?
TAXS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TAXS or VYM?
Over the past year TAXS returned +1.26% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), TAXS annualized +1.76% vs +20.28% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TAXS or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.1% annualized versus 1.6% for TAXS. Worst drawdown: TAXS -0.8% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both TAXS and VYM?
TAXS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, TAXS or VYM?
TAXS yields 2.25% while VYM yields 2.22%, so TAXS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TAXS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.