TBFG vs VYM
The Brinsmere Fund - Growth ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TBFG or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.2%.
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 | TBFG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.46% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $387M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.36% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 25 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +10.07% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.94% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.2%Best | 10.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.2%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $13,913 | $15,861Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.2% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Brinsmere Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 12, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 16, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.7 years).
TBFG 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
TBFG vs VYM Performance
The Brinsmere Fund - Growth ETF (TBFG) is an ETF from Brinsmere Fund and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TBFG returned +14.94% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, TBFG is up 10.07% 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 10.2% compared with 9.2% for TBFG. 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 -14.2% for TBFG 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TBFG charges 0.46% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $46 vs $4 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TBFG currently yields 2.36% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 24 holdings in TBFG and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, TBFG as of Aug 17, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in TBFG and 603 in VYM, against full books of 25 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 568 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for TBFG (97.5% of the fund), and 24 for TBFG that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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 TBFG 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, TBFG or VYM?
TBFG has an expense ratio of 0.46% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TBFG or VYM?
Over the past year TBFG returned +14.94% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TBFG or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.2% annualized versus 9.2% for TBFG. Worst drawdown: TBFG -14.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both TBFG and VYM?
TBFG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, TBFG or VYM?
TBFG yields 2.36% while VYM yields 2.22%, so TBFG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TBFG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.