UYG vs VYM
ProShares Ultra Financials vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, UYG or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. UYG led over 3Y and 5Y, VYM over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | UYG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.94% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $813M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.91% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 89 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +3.80% | +13.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.84% | +17.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.01%Best | +17.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.32%Best | +12.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 41.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -98.0% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,687Best | $17,797 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 14, 2026 (19.6 years).
UYG 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
UYG vs VYM Performance
ProShares Ultra Financials (UYG) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UYG returned +7.84% while VYM returned +17.46%. Year to date, UYG is up 3.80% versus a gain of 13.08% for VYM.
Over three years, UYG compounded at +31.01% per year against +17.73% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +13.32% and +12.22% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.78% annualized vs +0.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.1% compared with 14.6% 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 -98.0% for UYG and -58.8% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UYG charges 0.94% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $94 vs $4 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UYG currently yields 10.91% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 17.1% of VYM's money is in holdings UYG also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UYG, our book for it covers 62.2% 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 UYG share little of their money.
49 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in UYG and 557 in VYM, against full books of 89 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in UYG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 6.76% | 3.82% | 2.94% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 2.14% | 1.13% | 1.01% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.87% | 1.07% | 0.80% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 1.81% | 0.96% | 0.85% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.59% | 0.89% | 0.70% |
| BLKBlackrock Inc | 1.18% | 0.68% | 0.50% |
| COFCapital One Financial Corp. | 0.95% | 0.53% | 0.42% |
| PGRProgressive Corporation | 0.90% | 0.50% | 0.40% |
| CBChubb Ltd Common Stock Usd 24.15 | 0.87% | 0.50% | 0.37% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.78% | 0.44% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of UYG 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, UYG or VYM?
UYG has an expense ratio of 0.94% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UYG or VYM?
Over the past year UYG returned +7.84% vs +17.46% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), UYG annualized +0.05% vs +6.78% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UYG or VYM?
UYG has been the more volatile fund at 41.1% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: UYG -98.0% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both UYG and VYM?
UYG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between UYG and VYM?
At least 17.1% of VYM's money is in holdings UYG also owns. Our book for UYG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in UYG and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, UYG or VYM?
UYG yields 10.91% while VYM yields 2.22%, so UYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than UYG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. UYG led over 3Y and 5Y, VYM over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.