UPSD vs VYM
Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, UPSD or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | UPSD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $123M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.63% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 103 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +12.45%Best | +12.29% |
| 1Y Return | +15.23% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 10.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $11,973 | $12,650Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.0%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 20, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.8 years).
UPSD 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
UPSD vs VYM Performance
Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF (UPSD) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UPSD returned +15.23% while VYM returned +16.61%. Year to date, UPSD is up 12.45% versus a gain of 12.29% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UPSD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 10.5% 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 -23.9% for UPSD 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UPSD charges 0.79% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $4 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UPSD currently yields 0.63% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
39.7% of UPSD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 31.8% of VYM's money is in holdings UPSD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
46 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in UPSD and 557 in VYM, against full books of 103 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for UPSD (65.2% of the fund), and 52 for UPSD that do not appear in VYM (55.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in UPSD | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.85% | 7.35% | 6.50% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.43% | 2.63% | 1.20% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.40% | 2.51% | 1.11% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.99% | 1.80% | 0.81% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.19% | 1.38% | 0.19% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 1.61% | 0.50% | 1.11% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.71% | 1.37% | 0.66% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.69% | 1.31% | 0.62% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 0.70% | 1.21% | 0.51% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.23% | 0.64% | 0.59% |
39.7% of UPSD is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, UPSD or VYM?
UPSD has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UPSD or VYM?
Over the past year UPSD returned +15.23% vs +16.61% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), UPSD annualized +10.52% vs +13.95% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UPSD or VYM?
UPSD has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 10.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: UPSD -23.9% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both UPSD and VYM?
UPSD and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 UPSD and VYM?
39.7% of UPSD's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 31.8% of VYM's is in holdings UPSD also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in UPSD and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, UPSD or VYM?
UPSD yields 0.63% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than UPSD?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.