VPLS vs VYM
Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VPLS or VYM?
Intermediate Term Bond against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | VPLS | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.0B | $95.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.91% | 2.23% |
| Holdings | 6,505 | 610 |
| YTD Return | -1.58% | +15.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.05% | +19.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.97% | +19.64%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 10.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.3%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $11,195 | $16,573Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Nov 13, 2026 (2.9 years).
VPLS 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
VPLS vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VPLS returned -1.05% while VYM returned +19.62%. Year to date, VPLS is down 1.58% versus a gain of 15.95% for VYM.
Over three years, VPLS compounded at +3.97% per year against +19.64% 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 4.6% for VPLS. 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 -4.3% for VPLS 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VPLS charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VPLS currently yields 4.91% against 2.23% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings VPLS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VPLS, our book for it covers 41.7% 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 VPLS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, VPLS as of Nov 2, 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 1,295 positions we hold weights for in VPLS and 602 in VYM, against full books of 6,505 and 610.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VPLS 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, VPLS or VYM?
VPLS has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VPLS or VYM?
Over the past year VPLS returned -1.05% vs +19.62% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VPLS or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.7% annualized versus 4.6% for VPLS. Worst drawdown: VPLS -4.3% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both VPLS and VYM?
VPLS and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 VPLS and VYM?
At least 1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings VPLS also owns. Our book for VPLS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 1,295 positions we hold weights for in VPLS and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, VPLS or VYM?
VPLS yields 4.91% while VYM yields 2.23%, so VPLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VPLS?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.