VYM vs ZALT
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Innovator US Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly
Which is better, VYM or ZALT?
Large Cap Value against Multi Alternative.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.8%.
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 | ZALT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.69% |
| AUM | $95.8B | $835M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.23% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 610 | 1,015 |
| YTD Return | +11.84%Best | +4.91% |
| 1Y Return | +16.77%Best | +6.64% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.83%Best | +9.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.75% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.3% | 3.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5% | -8.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $16,921Best | $13,373 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.8%Best | 38.8% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Oct 2, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 2, 2023 to Nov 6, 2026 (3.1 years).
VYM vs ZALT 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 3.1 years both funds cover.
VYM vs ZALT Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Innovator US Equity 10 Buffer ETF - Quarterly (ZALT) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year VYM returned +16.77% while ZALT returned +6.64%. Year to date, VYM is up 11.84% versus a gain of 4.91% for ZALT.
Over three years, VYM compounded at +18.83% per year against +9.62% for ZALT.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.3% compared with 3.9% for ZALT. 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 -8.2% for ZALT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while ZALT charges 0.69%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $69 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.23% against 0.00% for ZALT.
Holdings Overlap
87.9% of VYM's money is in holdings ZALT also owns. 32.7% of ZALT's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
Most of VYM is already inside ZALT. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, VYM as of Aug 31, 2026 and ZALT as of Oct 16, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
246 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 493 in ZALT, against full books of 610 and 1,015.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 247 positions for ZALT that do not appear in our book for VYM (67.0% of the fund), and 331 for VYM that do not appear in ZALT (10.7%).
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 ZALT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.94% | 2.47% | 4.47% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.83% | 1.39% | 2.44% |
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 2.70% | 1.09% | 1.61% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.58% | 0.92% | 1.66% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.83% | 0.75% | 1.08% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.76% | 0.67% | 1.09% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.54% | 0.66% | 0.88% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.47% | 0.55% | 0.92% |
| CATCaterpillar Inc | 1.46% | 0.52% | 0.94% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 1.42% | 0.53% | 0.89% |
87.9% of VYM is already inside ZALT.
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 ZALT?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while ZALT charges 0.69%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or ZALT?
Over the past year VYM returned +16.77% vs +6.64% for ZALT, 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 ZALT?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.3% annualized versus 3.9% for ZALT. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs ZALT -8.2%.
Should I hold both VYM and ZALT?
VYM and ZALT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 ZALT?
87.9% of VYM's money is in holdings ZALT also owns. 32.7% of ZALT's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 246 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 493 in ZALT.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or ZALT?
VYM yields 2.23% while ZALT yields 0.00%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZALT better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.