VYM vs XPH
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF
Which is better, VYM or XPH?
Large Cap Value against Mid Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 5Y, XPH over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. XPH is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%.
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 | XPH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $607M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 0.47% |
| Holdings | 613 | 67 |
| YTD Return | +11.35% | +21.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.34% | +43.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.22% | +18.26%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.30%Best | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 19.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8% | -52.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,861Best | $15,260 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1% | 25.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.8 years).
VYM vs XPH 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 XPH Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VYM returned +15.34% while XPH returned +43.00%. Year to date, VYM is up 11.35% versus a gain of 21.50% for XPH.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +17.22% per year against +18.26% for XPH; over five years the annualized figures are +12.30% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, XPH has the edge at +7.44% annualized vs +6.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XPH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% 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 -52.7% for XPH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XPH 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 0.47% for XPH.
Holdings Overlap
5.2% of VYM's money is in holdings XPH also owns. 12.3% of XPH's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
XPH and VYM share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 65 in XPH, against full books of 613 and 67.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 54 positions for XPH that do not appear in our book for VYM (82.0% of the fund), and 520 for VYM that do not appear in XPH (91.9%).
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 XPH | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.51% | 1.58% | 0.93% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.31% | 1.59% | 0.28% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.54% | 1.75% | 1.21% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 0.58% | 1.47% | 0.89% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 0.08% | 1.66% | 1.58% |
| OGNOrganon & Co | 0.01% | 1.50% | 1.49% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc, Class A | 0.13% | 1.38% | 1.25% |
| PRGOPerrigo Company Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.01% | 1.42% | 1.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and XPH 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 XPH?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XPH charges 0.35%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or XPH?
Over the past year VYM returned +15.34% vs +43.00% for XPH, so XPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), VYM annualized +6.82% vs +7.44% for XPH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or XPH?
XPH has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 14.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -58.8% vs XPH -52.7%.
Should I hold both VYM and XPH?
VYM and XPH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 XPH?
12.3% of XPH's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.3% of XPH's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 65 in XPH.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XPH?
VYM yields 2.22% while XPH yields 0.47%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XPH better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 5Y, XPH over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. XPH is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.