URTY vs VYM
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, URTY or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. URTY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y.
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 | URTY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $265M | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.94% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 5,977 | 610 |
| YTD Return | +26.25%Best | +16.00% |
| 1Y Return | +30.84%Best | +18.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.06%Best | +20.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -11.09% | +11.54%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 59.2% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.2% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,556 | $17,264Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 9, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2010 to Nov 11, 2026 (16.7 years).
URTY 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 16.7 years both funds cover.
URTY vs VYM Performance
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 (URTY) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year URTY returned +30.84% while VYM returned +18.97%. Year to date, URTY is up 26.25% versus a gain of 16.00% for VYM.
Over three years, URTY compounded at +35.06% per year against +20.46% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -11.09% and +11.54% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, URTY has the edge at +12.15% annualized vs +10.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 59.2% compared with 13.2% 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 -88.2% for URTY 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URTY charges 0.95% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $4 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URTY currently yields 0.94% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.0% of VYM's money is in holdings URTY also owns.
Stated as a floor: for URTY, our book for it covers 72.6% 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 URTY share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, URTY as of Oct 19, 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.
173 positions in common, counted across the 1,923 positions we hold weights for in URTY and 602 in VYM, against full books of 5,977 and 610.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in URTY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 0.01% | 0.54% | 0.53% |
| SMSm Energy Co | 0.17% | 0.04% | 0.13% |
| UMBFUmb Financial Corp. | 0.17% | 0.04% | 0.13% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 0.16% | 0.04% | 0.12% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 0.16% | 0.03% | 0.13% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.15% | 0.03% | 0.12% |
| PBFPbf Energy Inc | 0.14% | 0.03% | 0.11% |
| VLYValley National Bancorp | 0.11% | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc Common Stock Usd 1 | 0.11% | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 0.11% | 0.03% | 0.08% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of URTY 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, URTY or VYM?
URTY has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URTY or VYM?
Over the past year URTY returned +30.84% vs +18.97% for VYM, so URTY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), URTY annualized +12.15% vs +10.43% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTY or VYM?
URTY has been the more volatile fund at 59.2% annualized versus 13.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: URTY -88.2% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both URTY and VYM?
URTY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 URTY and VYM?
At least 3.0% of VYM's money is in holdings URTY also owns. Our book for URTY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 173 positions in common, counted across the 1,923 positions we hold weights for in URTY and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, URTY or VYM?
URTY yields 0.94% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than URTY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. URTY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VYM over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.