VYM vs XES
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF
Which is better, VYM or XES?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 3Y and the full window, XES over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.9%.
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 | XES |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $391M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 1.17% |
| Holdings | 613 | 35 |
| YTD Return | +14.82% | +44.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.84% | +75.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.64%Best | +9.53% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.28% | +19.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Best | 39.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8%Best | -96.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,845 | $24,707Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9%Best | 40.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Small Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
VYM vs XES 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 19.8 years both funds cover.
VYM vs XES Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VYM returned +20.84% while XES returned +75.62%. Year to date, VYM is up 14.82% versus a gain of 44.75% for XES.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +18.64% per year against +9.53% for XES; over five years the annualized figures are +12.28% and +19.83% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs -3.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.9% compared with 14.5% 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 -58.8% for VYM and -96.1% for XES. 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
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XES charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $35 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.24% against 1.17% for XES.
Holdings Overlap
0.8% of VYM's money is in holdings XES also owns. 34.9% of XES's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 35 in XES, against full books of 613 and 35.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 22 positions for XES that do not appear in our book for VYM (54.0% of the fund), and 560 for VYM that do not appear in XES (96.6%).
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 XES | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.23% | 3.86% | 3.63% |
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 0.03% | 3.94% | 3.91% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 0.29% | 3.60% | 3.31% |
| NOVNov Inc Common Stock | 0.03% | 3.73% | 3.70% |
| WFRDWeatherford International Plc | 0.02% | 3.59% | 3.57% |
| NENoble Corp Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.02% | 3.47% | 3.45% |
| HPHelmerich & Payne, Inc. | 0.01% | 3.45% | 3.44% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.12% | 3.21% | 3.09% |
| PTENPatterson-Uti Energy Inc | 0.01% | 3.31% | 3.30% |
| LBRTLiberty Oilfield Services, Inc. | 0.02% | 2.76% | 2.74% |
34.9% of XES 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 XES?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XES charges 0.35%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or XES?
Over the past year VYM returned +20.84% vs +75.62% for XES, so XES leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VYM annualized +7.00% vs -3.97% for XES. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or XES?
XES has been the more volatile fund at 39.9% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -58.8% vs XES -96.1%.
Should I hold both VYM and XES?
VYM and XES 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 VYM and XES?
34.9% of XES's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 34.9% of XES's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 35 in XES.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XES?
VYM yields 2.24% while XES yields 1.17%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XES better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 3Y and the full window, XES over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.