URNJ vs VYM
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, URNJ or VYM?
Precious Metals against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | URNJ | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $385M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.41% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 42 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -28.87% | +8.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | -25.81% | +12.18%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.19% | +17.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 48.3% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.7% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $11,840 | $15,533Best |
| Fund Family | Sprott ETFS | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Precious Metals | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026 (3.7 years).
URNJ 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 3.7 years both funds cover.
URNJ vs VYM Performance
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year URNJ returned -25.81% while VYM returned +12.18%. Year to date, URNJ is down 28.87% versus a gain of 8.51% for VYM.
Over three years, URNJ compounded at +2.19% per year against +17.98% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +12.64% annualized vs +4.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URNJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 48.3% compared with 11.7% 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 -57.7% for URNJ 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 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URNJ charges 0.80% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $4 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URNJ currently yields 6.41% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 37 holdings in URNJ and 557 in VYM, totalling 86.2% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in URNJ and 557 in VYM, against full books of 42 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of URNJ 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, URNJ or VYM?
URNJ has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URNJ or VYM?
Over the past year URNJ returned -25.81% vs +12.18% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), URNJ annualized +4.67% vs +12.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URNJ or VYM?
URNJ has been the more volatile fund at 48.3% annualized versus 11.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: URNJ -57.7% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both URNJ and VYM?
URNJ and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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, URNJ or VYM?
URNJ yields 6.41% while VYM yields 2.22%, so URNJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than URNJ?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.