VTC vs VYM
Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VTC or VYM?
Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Value.
VTC has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | VTC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.04% |
| AUM | $1.7B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.03% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 5,356 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -1.78% | +10.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.34% | +14.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.22% | +17.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.55% | +11.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.3%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.4%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,728 | $17,311Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 7, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 9, 2017 to Sep 23, 2026 (8.9 years).
VTC 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
VTC vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF (VTC) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VTC returned -1.34% while VYM returned +14.28%. Year to date, VTC is down 1.78% versus a gain of 10.23% for VYM.
Over three years, VTC compounded at +5.22% per year against +17.50% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -0.55% and +11.60% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.51% annualized vs +0.81%.
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 7.3% for VTC. 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 -22.4% for VTC 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTC charges 0.03% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTC currently yields 5.03% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of VYM's money is in holdings VTC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTC, our book for it covers 0.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 11 positions we hold weights for in VTC and 557 in VYM, against full books of 5,356 and 613.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTC | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.05% | 0.70% | 0.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTC 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, VTC or VYM?
VTC has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VYM charges 0.04%. VTC is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTC or VYM?
Over the past year VTC returned -1.34% vs +14.28% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), VTC annualized +0.81% vs +9.51% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTC or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 7.3% for VTC. Worst drawdown: VTC -22.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both VTC and VYM?
VTC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, VTC or VYM?
VTC yields 5.03% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VTC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VTC?
VTC has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.