VYM vs XOEF
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs iShares S&P 500 ex S&P 100 ETF
Which is better, VYM or XOEF?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. XOEF is less concentrated, with 11.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | XOEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.20% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $23M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 613 | 408 |
| YTD Return | +13.91% | +14.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.57%Best | +17.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.12% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.17% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.0%Best | 11.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.7%Best | -7.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,431Best | $12,039 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.9% | 11.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jul 8, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.2 years).
VYM vs XOEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
VYM vs XOEF Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and iShares S&P 500 ex S&P 100 ETF (XOEF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year VYM returned +17.57% while XOEF returned +17.05%. Year to date, VYM is up 13.91% versus a gain of 14.15% for XOEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XOEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.3% compared with 9.0% 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 -7.7% for XOEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XOEF charges 0.20%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $20 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 1.04% for XOEF.
Holdings Overlap
29.6% of VYM's money is in holdings XOEF also owns. 40.6% of XOEF's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
183 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 404 in XOEF, against full books of 613 and 408.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 212 positions for XOEF that do not appear in our book for VYM (58.0% of the fund), and 387 for VYM that do not appear in XOEF (68.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VYM | Weight in XOEF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 0.80% | 1.00% | 0.20% |
| ETNEaton Corp. Plc | 0.69% | 0.94% | 0.25% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc. | 0.54% | 0.73% | 0.19% |
| PGRProgressive Corp. | 0.53% | 0.68% | 0.15% |
| CBChubb Ltd. | 0.50% | 0.69% | 0.19% |
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 0.41% | 0.61% | 0.20% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 0.41% | 0.56% | 0.15% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.37% | 0.59% | 0.22% |
| BXBlackstone Group Inc/the Common Stock | 0.36% | 0.55% | 0.19% |
| CMICummins Inc. | 0.41% | 0.49% | 0.08% |
40.6% of XOEF 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 XOEF?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XOEF charges 0.20%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or XOEF?
Over the past year VYM returned +17.57% vs +17.05% for XOEF, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VYM annualized +19.88% vs +16.72% for XOEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or XOEF?
XOEF has been the more volatile fund at 11.3% annualized versus 9.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -6.7% vs XOEF -7.7%.
Should I hold both VYM and XOEF?
VYM and XOEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 XOEF?
40.6% of XOEF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 40.6% of XOEF's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 183 positions in common, counted across the 603 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 404 in XOEF.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XOEF?
VYM yields 2.22% while XOEF yields 1.04%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XOEF better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. XOEF is less concentrated, with 11.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.