AESL vs VYM
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AESL or VYM?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%.
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 | AESL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 102 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -2.65% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESL 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.
AESL vs VYM Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AESL is down 2.65% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESL charges 0.40% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $4 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESL currently yields 0.00% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
32.1% of AESL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's money is in holdings AESL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
26 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 102 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 550 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AESL (97.4% of the fund), and 92 for AESL that do not appear in VYM (63.5%).
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 AESL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 3.47% | 0.03% | 3.44% |
| FBPFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 3.22% | 0.02% | 3.20% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 2.96% | 0.02% | 2.94% |
| HOMBHome Bancshares Inc/ar | 2.72% | 0.02% | 2.70% |
| ESNTEssent Group Ltd. | 2.30% | 0.02% | 2.28% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 2.20% | 0.04% | 2.16% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 1.86% | 0.02% | 1.84% |
| UMBFUmb Financial Corp. | 1.39% | 0.04% | 1.35% |
| GNTXGentex Corp | 1.38% | 0.02% | 1.36% |
| CAKECheesecake Factory Inc/the | 1.29% | 0.02% | 1.27% |
32.1% of AESL is already inside VYM.
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, AESL or VYM?
AESL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESL and VYM?
32.1% of AESL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 0.5% of VYM's is in holdings AESL also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESL or VYM?
AESL yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AESL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 26.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.