VYM vs XME
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF
Which is better, VYM or XME?
Large Cap Value against Small Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window, XME over 3Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%.
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 | XME |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $83.1B | $4.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 0.32% |
| Holdings | 608 | 41 |
| YTD Return | +10.00%Best | -1.47% |
| 1Y Return | +13.75%Best | +9.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.81% | +28.63%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.63% | +21.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 34.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8%Best | -87.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,334 | $25,937Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1%Best | 46.6% |
| 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 Oct 2, 2026 (19.9 years).
VYM vs XME 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 19.9 years both funds cover.
VYM vs XME Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VYM returned +13.75% while XME returned +9.73%. Year to date, VYM is up 10.00% versus a loss of 1.47% for XME.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +18.81% per year against +28.63% for XME; over five years the annualized figures are +11.63% and +21.00% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +6.74% annualized vs +4.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.6% compared with 14.6% 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 -87.3% for XME. 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 XME 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 2.22% against 0.32% for XME.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of VYM's money is in holdings XME also owns. 17.9% of XME's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
XME and VYM share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 40 in XME, against full books of 608 and 41.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 34 positions for XME that do not appear in our book for VYM (77.6% of the fund), and 524 for VYM that do not appear in XME (96.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and XME 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, VYM or XME?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XME charges 0.35%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or XME?
Over the past year VYM returned +13.75% vs +9.73% for XME, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VYM annualized +6.74% vs +4.48% for XME. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or XME?
XME has been the more volatile fund at 34.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -58.8% vs XME -87.3%.
Should I hold both VYM and XME?
VYM and XME 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 XME?
17.9% of XME's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 17.9% of XME's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 40 in XME.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XME?
VYM yields 2.22% while XME yields 0.32%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XME better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window, XME over 3Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.