UNL vs VYM
United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, UNL or VYM?
Energy against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.5%.
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 | UNL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.65% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 57 | 610 |
| YTD Return | -24.84% | +16.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -35.43% | +18.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -21.02% | +20.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -17.16% | +11.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -91.0% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $3,901 | $17,264Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.5% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | USCF Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Energy | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2009 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2009 to Nov 11, 2026 (17 years).
UNL 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 17 years both funds cover.
UNL vs VYM Performance
United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund (UNL) is an ETF from USCF Investments and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UNL returned -35.43% while VYM returned +18.97%. Year to date, UNL is down 24.84% versus a gain of 16.00% for VYM.
Over three years, UNL compounded at -21.02% per year against +20.46% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -17.16% and +11.54% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.06% annualized vs -12.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UNL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 13.1% for VYM. 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 -91.0% for UNL 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 0.08. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UNL charges 1.65% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $165 vs $4 annually, a gap of $161 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UNL currently yields 0.00% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
17.2% of UNL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.9% of VYM's money is in holdings UNL also owns.
UNL and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 51 days apart, UNL as of Oct 21, 2026 and VYM as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in UNL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 57 and 610.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 572 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for UNL (89.7% of the fund), and 18 for UNL that do not appear in VYM (80.4%).
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 UNL 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, UNL or VYM?
UNL has an expense ratio of 1.65% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $161 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UNL or VYM?
Over the past year UNL returned -35.43% vs +18.97% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), UNL annualized -12.08% vs +10.06% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UNL or VYM?
UNL has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: UNL -91.0% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both UNL and VYM?
UNL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.08, 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 UNL and VYM?
17.2% of UNL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.9% of VYM's is in holdings UNL also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in UNL and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, UNL or VYM?
UNL yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than UNL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.