TPLS vs VYM
Thornburg Core Plus Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, TPLS or VYM?
High Yield 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 | TPLS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $15M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.31% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 337 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.80% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.32% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.5%Best | 9.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.0%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,514 | $12,698Best |
| Fund Family | Thornburg Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 5, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.6 years).
TPLS 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
TPLS vs VYM Performance
Thornburg Core Plus Bond ETF (TPLS) is an ETF from Thornburg Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TPLS returned -0.32% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, TPLS is down 0.80% 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 9.9% compared with 3.5% for TPLS. 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 -3.0% for TPLS 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 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TPLS charges 0.45% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $4 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TPLS currently yields 5.31% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings TPLS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TPLS, our book for it covers 43.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
6 positions in common, counted across the 200 positions we hold weights for in TPLS and 603 in VYM, against full books of 337 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TPLS | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUKDuke Energy Corp (Duk) | 0.24% | 0.41% | 0.17% |
| FERGFerguson Enterprises Inc 0.00 | 0.24% | 0.19% | 0.05% |
| PEGPublic Service Enterprise Group Inc. | 0.22% | 0.17% | 0.05% |
| SAICScience Applications International Corp | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 0.13% | 0.04% | 0.09% |
| NWENorthwestern Corp | 0.15% | 0.02% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TPLS 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, TPLS or VYM?
TPLS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TPLS or VYM?
Over the past year TPLS returned -0.32% vs +17.57% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), TPLS annualized +3.18% vs +16.10% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TPLS or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 9.9% annualized versus 3.5% for TPLS. Worst drawdown: TPLS -3.0% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both TPLS and VYM?
TPLS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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, TPLS or VYM?
TPLS yields 5.31% while VYM yields 2.22%, so TPLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than TPLS?
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.