VYM vs WDGF
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, VYM or WDGF?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | VYM | WDGF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $83.1B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 0.05% |
| Holdings | 608 | 129 |
| YTD Return | +9.22%Best | -5.10% |
| 1Y Return | +12.81%Best | -7.79% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.21% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.39% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8%Best | 21.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.7%Best | -18.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,390Best | $9,685 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1%Best | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Sep 12, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2025 to Oct 1, 2026 (1.1 years).
VYM vs WDGF 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
VYM vs WDGF Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and WisdomTree Global Defense Fund ETF (WDGF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year VYM returned +12.81% while WDGF returned -7.79%. Year to date, VYM is up 9.22% versus a loss of 5.10% for WDGF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 10.8% 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 -6.7% for VYM and -18.0% for WDGF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while WDGF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $45 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 0.05% for WDGF.
Holdings Overlap
1.6% of VYM's money is in holdings WDGF also owns. 23.9% of WDGF's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
WDGF and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, VYM as of Jul 31, 2026 and WDGF as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
10 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 111 in WDGF, against full books of 608 and 129.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 43 positions for WDGF that do not appear in our book for VYM (32.2% of the fund), and 518 for VYM that do not appear in WDGF (95.4%).
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 VYM | Weight in WDGF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 0.40% | 5.19% | 4.79% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 0.48% | 5.05% | 4.57% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 0.29% | 4.99% | 4.70% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 0.21% | 2.93% | 2.72% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.11% | 2.30% | 2.19% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.03% | 1.66% | 1.63% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 0.05% | 0.73% | 0.68% |
| BAHBooz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. | 0.03% | 0.42% | 0.39% |
| SAICScience Applications International Corp | 0.02% | 0.36% | 0.34% |
| KBRKbr Inc | 0.02% | 0.29% | 0.27% |
23.9% of WDGF is already inside VYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VYM or WDGF?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while WDGF charges 0.45%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or WDGF?
Over the past year VYM returned +12.81% vs -7.79% for WDGF, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VYM annualized +12.56% vs -2.87% for WDGF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or WDGF?
WDGF has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 10.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -6.7% vs WDGF -18.0%.
Should I hold both VYM and WDGF?
VYM and WDGF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 VYM and WDGF?
23.9% of WDGF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 23.9% of WDGF's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 111 in WDGF.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or WDGF?
VYM yields 2.22% while WDGF yields 0.05%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDGF better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.