AIPO vs VYM
Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AIPO or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIPO led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.3%.
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 | AIPO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $912M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 83 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +15.64%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +7.44% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 34.6% | 10.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $13,091Best | $11,963 |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.3% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 24, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 25, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).
AIPO 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 covers the 1.2 years both funds cover.
AIPO vs VYM Performance
Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF (AIPO) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIPO returned +7.44% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, AIPO is up 15.64% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIPO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.6% compared with 10.3% 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 -24.4% for AIPO and -6.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIPO charges 0.69% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $4 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIPO currently yields 0.00% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
20.4% of AIPO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.4% of VYM's money is in holdings AIPO also owns.
AIPO and VYM share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AIPO and 602 in VYM, against full books of 83 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 562 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AIPO (89.4% of the fund), and 64 for AIPO that do not appear in VYM (70.2%).
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 AIPO | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.86% | 6.94% | 3.08% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | 8.61% | 0.63% | 7.98% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 1.94% | 0.10% | 1.84% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 1.55% | 0.23% | 1.32% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 1.48% | 0.19% | 1.29% |
| PEGPub Serv Enterp | 1.10% | 0.15% | 0.95% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 0.58% | 0.08% | 0.50% |
| ATKRAtkore International Group Inc | 0.51% | 0.01% | 0.50% |
| AESA E S Corporation, The | 0.34% | 0.04% | 0.30% |
| PNWPinnacle West Corp | 0.28% | 0.05% | 0.23% |
20.4% of AIPO 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AIPO or VYM?
AIPO has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIPO or VYM?
Over the past year AIPO returned +7.44% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AIPO annualized +25.16% vs +16.11% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIPO or VYM?
AIPO has been the more volatile fund at 34.6% annualized versus 10.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AIPO -24.4% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both AIPO and VYM?
AIPO and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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 AIPO and VYM?
20.4% of AIPO's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 8.4% of VYM's is in holdings AIPO also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AIPO and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIPO or VYM?
AIPO yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AIPO?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIPO led over the full window, VYM over 1Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.