ACSG vs VYM
American Century Small Cap Growth Insights ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ACSG or VYM?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%.
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 | ACSG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $52M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 311 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +8.14% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.51% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 11.2%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.5%Best | 25.8% |
| Fund Family | American Century ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Oct 14, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ACSG vs VYM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
ACSG vs VYM Performance
American Century Small Cap Growth Insights ETF (ACSG) is an ETF from American Century ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ACSG returned +10.51% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, ACSG is up 8.14% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACSG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 11.2% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACSG charges 0.49% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $4 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACSG currently yields 0.00% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
9.3% of ACSG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's money is in holdings ACSG also owns.
ACSG and VYM share little of their money.
30 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 602 in VYM, against full books of 311 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 545 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ACSG (97.3% of the fund), and 257 for ACSG that do not appear in VYM (84.9%).
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 ACSG | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SXTSensient Technologies Corp | 0.79% | 0.02% | 0.77% |
| HRIHerc Holdings Inc Com | 0.67% | 0.02% | 0.65% |
| FLSFlowserve Corp. | 0.60% | 0.04% | 0.56% |
| WFRDWeatherford International Plc | 0.59% | 0.03% | 0.56% |
| DKDelek Us Holdings Inc | 0.57% | 0.02% | 0.55% |
| MURMurphy Oil Corp | 0.56% | 0.02% | 0.54% |
| POWIPower Integration Inc. | 0.44% | 0.01% | 0.43% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 0.41% | 0.03% | 0.38% |
| HLNEHamilton Lane Inc | 0.41% | 0.02% | 0.39% |
| SSBSouth State Corp | 0.36% | 0.04% | 0.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACSG and VYM 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, ACSG or VYM?
ACSG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACSG or VYM?
Over the past year ACSG returned +10.51% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACSG or VYM?
ACSG has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 11.2% for VYM.
Should I hold both ACSG and VYM?
ACSG and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 ACSG and VYM?
9.3% of ACSG's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's is in holdings ACSG also owns. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACSG or VYM?
ACSG yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ACSG?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.