VYM vs YMAG
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF
Which is better, VYM or YMAG?
Large Cap Value against Option Writing.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, YMAG 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 | YMAG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 1.34% |
| AUM | $81.6B | $295M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 57.01% |
| Holdings | 613 | 9 |
| YTD Return | +12.29%Best | +7.61% |
| 1Y Return | +16.61%Best | +11.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.42% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.12% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4%Best | 17.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -26.0% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $15,015 | $17,123Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1% | - |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Option Writing |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jan 29, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.6 years).
VYM vs YMAG 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
VYM vs YMAG Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAG) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year VYM returned +16.61% while YMAG returned +11.25%. Year to date, VYM is up 12.29% versus a gain of 7.61% for YMAG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YMAG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 10.4% 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 -26.0% for YMAG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while YMAG charges 1.34%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $134 annually, a gap of $130 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 57.01% for YMAG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 557 holdings in VYM and 8 in YMAG, totalling 99.2% and 100.0% 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 8 in YMAG, against full books of 613 and 9.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for YMAG that do not appear in our book for VYM (100.0% of the fund), and 528 for VYM that do not appear in YMAG (97.1%).
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 YMAG 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 YMAG?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while YMAG charges 1.34%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $130 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or YMAG?
Over the past year VYM returned +16.61% vs +11.25% for YMAG, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or YMAG?
YMAG has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 10.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs YMAG -26.0%.
Should I hold both VYM and YMAG?
VYM and YMAG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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 YMAG?
VYM yields 2.22% while YMAG yields 57.01%, so YMAG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YMAG better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, YMAG over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.