VFVA vs VYM
Vanguard US Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VFVA or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VFVA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. VFVA is less concentrated, with 7.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | VFVA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.13% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $951M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.73% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 693 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +19.85%Best | +12.87% |
| 1Y Return | +25.82%Best | +17.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.27%Best | +17.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.23%Best | +11.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,805Best | $17,608 |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.9%Best | 26.1% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | 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 15, 2026 (8.6 years).
VFVA 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.
VFVA vs VYM Performance
Vanguard US Value Factor ETF (VFVA) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VFVA returned +25.82% while VYM returned +17.25%. Year to date, VFVA is up 19.85% versus a gain of 12.87% for VYM.
Over three years, VFVA compounded at +18.27% per year against +17.66% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.23% and +11.98% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VFVA has the edge at +11.13% annualized vs +9.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VFVA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.8% compared with 15.1% 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 -48.6% for VFVA 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VFVA 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, VFVA currently yields 1.73% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
51.9% of VFVA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 52.6% of VYM's money is in holdings VFVA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
257 positions in common, counted across the 688 positions we hold weights for in VFVA and 557 in VYM, against full books of 693 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 279 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for VFVA (44.8% of the fund), and 414 for VFVA that do not appear in VYM (46.4%).
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 VFVA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.14% | 3.82% | 3.68% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.38% | 2.63% | 2.25% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.08% | 2.51% | 2.43% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.35% | 1.80% | 1.45% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.59% | 1.48% | 0.89% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.23% | 1.66% | 1.43% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 0.33% | 1.52% | 1.19% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.50% | 1.31% | 0.81% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.77% | 0.80% | 0.03% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.36% | 1.07% | 0.71% |
52.6% of VYM is already inside VFVA.
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, VFVA or VYM?
VFVA 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, VFVA or VYM?
Over the past year VFVA returned +25.82% vs +17.25% for VYM, so VFVA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), VFVA annualized +11.13% vs +9.64% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VFVA or VYM?
VFVA has been the more volatile fund at 22.8% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VFVA -48.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both VFVA and VYM?
VFVA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 VFVA and VYM?
52.6% of VYM's money is in holdings VFVA also owns. 52.6% of VYM's is in holdings VFVA also owns. They hold 257 positions in common, counted across the 688 positions we hold weights for in VFVA and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VFVA or VYM?
VFVA yields 1.73% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VFVA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VFVA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. VFVA is less concentrated, with 7.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.