VYM vs YGLD
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Simplify Gold Strategy ETF
Which is better, VYM or YGLD?
Large Cap Value against Gold.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, YGLD over the full window.
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 | YGLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.53% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $37M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 22.33% |
| Holdings | 613 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +11.71%Best | -16.37% |
| 1Y Return | +16.24%Best | -0.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.24% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.86% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.9%Best | 37.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -43.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,556 | $15,919Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Gold |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Dec 2, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (1.8 years).
VYM vs YGLD 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
VYM vs YGLD Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Simplify Gold Strategy ETF (YGLD) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds. Over the past year VYM returned +16.24% while YGLD returned -0.96%. Year to date, VYM is up 11.71% versus a loss of 16.37% for YGLD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YGLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.1% compared with 9.9% 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 -14.5% for VYM and -43.4% for YGLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while YGLD charges 0.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $53 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 22.33% for YGLD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 557 holdings in VYM and 1 in YGLD, totalling 99.2% and 46.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 1 in YGLD, against full books of 613 and 16.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VYM and YGLD 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 YGLD?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while YGLD charges 0.53%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or YGLD?
Over the past year VYM returned +16.24% vs -0.96% for YGLD, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VYM annualized +13.48% vs +29.47% for YGLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or YGLD?
YGLD has been the more volatile fund at 37.1% annualized versus 9.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs YGLD -43.4%.
Should I hold both VYM and YGLD?
VYM and YGLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or YGLD?
VYM yields 2.22% while YGLD yields 22.33%, so YGLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YGLD better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, YGLD over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.