USAF vs VYM
Atlas America Fund ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, USAF or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%.
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 | USAF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.36% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 73 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +4.48% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.32% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 10.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.5%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $11,415 | $12,692Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.2% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Atlas Capital Team | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 19, 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 20, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
USAF 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.
USAF vs VYM Performance
Atlas America Fund ETF (USAF) is an ETF from Atlas Capital Team and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year USAF returned +6.32% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, USAF is up 4.48% versus a gain of 11.35% 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 10.7% compared with 4.8% for USAF. 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 -4.5% for USAF 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
USAF charges 0.89% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $4 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USAF currently yields 2.36% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of USAF's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in USAF and 557 in VYM, against full books of 73 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 527 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for USAF (97.0% of the fund), and 61 for USAF that do not appear in VYM (96.9%).
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 USAF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HASIHa Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc | 0.11% | 0.02% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of USAF 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, USAF or VYM?
USAF has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, USAF or VYM?
Over the past year USAF returned +6.32% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), USAF annualized +7.63% vs +14.16% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, USAF or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.7% annualized versus 4.8% for USAF. Worst drawdown: USAF -4.5% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both USAF and VYM?
USAF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, USAF or VYM?
USAF yields 2.36% while VYM yields 2.22%, so USAF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than USAF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.