VFMV vs VYM
Vanguard US Minimum Volatility ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VFMV or VYM?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VFMV is less concentrated, with 15.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | VFMV | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.13% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $437M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.75% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 204 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +11.16% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.05% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.04% | +18.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.00% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.6%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,386 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.6%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 13, 2018 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.6 years).
VFMV 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 8.6 years both funds cover.
VFMV vs VYM Performance
Vanguard US Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VFMV returned +11.05% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, VFMV is up 11.16% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, VFMV compounded at +15.04% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.00% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.90% annualized vs +9.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.2% for VFMV. 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 -33.6% for VFMV 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VFMV charges 0.13% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $13 vs $4 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VFMV currently yields 1.75% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
43.1% of VFMV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 43.8% of VYM's money is in holdings VFMV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
81 positions in common, counted across the 201 positions we hold weights for in VFMV and 602 in VYM, against full books of 204 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 490 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for VFMV (53.5% of the fund), and 119 for VFMV that do not appear in VYM (56.4%).
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 VFMV | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.81% | 7.29% | 6.48% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.71% | 2.54% | 0.83% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp | 1.63% | 2.36% | 0.73% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc | 1.53% | 1.93% | 0.40% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.02% | 3.38% | 3.36% |
| CVXChevron Corp.United States -Energy | 1.60% | 1.28% | 0.32% |
| KOCoca-cola Co. | 1.46% | 1.31% | 0.15% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 1.41% | 1.13% | 0.28% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 1.48% | 0.80% | 0.68% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.84% | 1.42% | 0.58% |
43.8% of VYM is already inside VFMV.
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, VFMV or VYM?
VFMV has an expense ratio of 0.13% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VFMV or VYM?
Over the past year VFMV returned +11.05% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), VFMV annualized +9.76% vs +9.90% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VFMV or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.2% for VFMV. Worst drawdown: VFMV -33.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both VFMV and VYM?
VFMV and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, 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 VFMV and VYM?
43.8% of VYM's money is in holdings VFMV also owns. 43.8% of VYM's is in holdings VFMV also owns. They hold 81 positions in common, counted across the 201 positions we hold weights for in VFMV and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VFMV or VYM?
VFMV yields 1.75% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VFMV?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VFMV is less concentrated, with 15.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.