TOTL vs VYM
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TOTL or VYM?
Short Term Low Quality against Large Cap Value.
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 | TOTL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.37% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 1,723 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -2.20% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.56% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.15% | +17.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.05% | +12.22%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.0%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,975 | $17,797Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Low Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 23, 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 24, 2015 to Sep 14, 2026 (11.6 years).
TOTL 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.
TOTL vs VYM Performance
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (TOTL) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TOTL returned -1.56% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, TOTL is down 2.20% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, TOTL compounded at +4.15% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.05% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +8.95% annualized vs -0.15%.
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 4.5% for TOTL. 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 -18.0% for TOTL 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TOTL charges 0.55% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $4 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TOTL currently yields 5.37% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of VYM's money is in holdings TOTL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TOTL, our book for it covers 60.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VYM and TOTL share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 926 positions we hold weights for in TOTL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 1,723 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TOTL 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, TOTL or VYM?
TOTL has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TOTL or VYM?
Over the past year TOTL returned -1.56% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), TOTL annualized -0.15% vs +8.95% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TOTL or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 4.5% for TOTL. Worst drawdown: TOTL -18.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both TOTL and VYM?
TOTL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 TOTL and VYM?
At least 1.3% of VYM's money is in holdings TOTL also owns. Our book for TOTL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 926 positions we hold weights for in TOTL and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, TOTL or VYM?
TOTL yields 5.37% while VYM yields 2.22%, so TOTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TOTL?
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.