TMAR vs VYM
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TMAR or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TMAR 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 | TMAR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $19M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 10 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +16.62%Best | +11.35% |
| 1Y Return | +20.60%Best | +15.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.7%Best | 9.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.9%Best | -11.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,465Best | $12,691 |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 21, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 24, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
TMAR 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
TMAR vs VYM Performance
FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - March (TMAR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TMAR returned +20.60% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, TMAR is up 16.62% versus a gain of 11.35% 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 9.9% compared with 7.7% for TMAR. 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 -9.9% for TMAR and -11.5% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TMAR charges 0.95% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $4 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TMAR currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TMAR 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, TMAR or VYM?
TMAR has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TMAR or VYM?
Over the past year TMAR returned +20.60% vs +15.34% for VYM, so TMAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), TMAR annualized +21.94% vs +17.22% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TMAR or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.9% annualized versus 7.7% for TMAR. Worst drawdown: TMAR -9.9% vs VYM -11.5%.
Should I hold both TMAR and VYM?
TMAR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, TMAR or VYM?
TMAR yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TMAR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. TMAR 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.