VTES vs VYM
Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, VTES or VYM?
Municipal 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 | VTES | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.74% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 3,326 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -0.32% | +11.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.01% | +15.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.74% | +17.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.30% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.3%Best | 11.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.4%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $10,899 | $16,771Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 7, 2023 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 9, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.5 years).
VTES 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
VTES vs VYM Performance
Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTES) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VTES returned +0.01% while VYM returned +15.34%. Year to date, VTES is down 0.32% versus a gain of 11.35% for VYM.
Over three years, VTES compounded at +2.74% per year against +17.22% for VYM. Across the full 4-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +15.92% annualized vs +2.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.4% compared with 2.3% for VTES. 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 -2.4% for VTES 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTES charges 0.05% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTES currently yields 2.74% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in VTES and 557 in VYM, totalling 0.1% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 7 positions we hold weights for in VTES and 557 in VYM, against full books of 3,326 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTES 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, VTES or VYM?
VTES has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTES or VYM?
Over the past year VTES returned +0.01% vs +15.34% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), VTES annualized +2.49% vs +15.92% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTES or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.4% annualized versus 2.3% for VTES. Worst drawdown: VTES -2.4% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both VTES and VYM?
VTES and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, VTES or VYM?
VTES yields 2.74% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VTES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than VTES?
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.