VYM vs YYY
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Amplify CEF High Income ETF
Which is better, VYM or YYY?
Large Cap Value against Debt-oriented balanced.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 29.5%.
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 | YYY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 3.23% |
| AUM | $83.1B | $662M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 13.90% |
| Holdings | 608 | 125 |
| YTD Return | +10.00%Best | -1.40% |
| 1Y Return | +13.75%Best | -0.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.81%Best | +11.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.63%Best | +1.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 13.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,334Best | $11,008 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.1%Best | 29.5% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Amplify ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Debt-oriented balanced |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jun 12, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2012 to Oct 2, 2026 (14.3 years).
VYM vs YYY 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 14.3 years both funds cover.
VYM vs YYY Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Amplify CEF High Income ETF (YYY) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs. Over the past year VYM returned +13.75% while YYY returned -0.88%. Year to date, VYM is up 10.00% versus a loss of 1.40% for YYY.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +18.81% per year against +11.25% for YYY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.63% and +1.94% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.05% annualized vs -0.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YYY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.6% compared with 13.1% 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 -35.7% for VYM and -58.8% for YYY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while YYY charges 3.23%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $323 annually, a gap of $319 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.22% against 13.90% for YYY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 557 holdings in VYM and 61 in YYY, totalling 99.2% and 99.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, VYM as of Jul 31, 2026 and YYY as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 61 in YYY, against full books of 608 and 125.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 60 positions for YYY that do not appear in our book for VYM (97.8% of the fund), and 528 for VYM that do not appear in YYY (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 YYY 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 YYY?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while YYY charges 3.23%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $319 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or YYY?
Over the past year VYM returned +13.75% vs -0.88% for YYY, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), VYM annualized +10.05% vs -0.14% for YYY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or YYY?
YYY has been the more volatile fund at 13.6% annualized versus 13.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -35.7% vs YYY -58.8%.
Should I hold both VYM and YYY?
VYM and YYY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 YYY?
VYM yields 2.22% while YYY yields 13.90%, so YYY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YYY better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 29.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.