AMLP vs VYM
Alerian MLP ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AMLP or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, VYM over 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 91.2%.
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 | AMLP | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $12.7B | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.83% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 15 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +17.02%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +25.14%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.98% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.49%Best | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.3% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -85.4% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,451Best | $17,241 |
| Top 10 Weight | 91.2% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 25, 2010 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.1 years).
AMLP 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
AMLP vs VYM Performance
Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AMLP returned +25.14% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, AMLP is up 17.02% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, AMLP compounded at +15.98% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +16.49% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.65% annualized vs +0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AMLP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.3% compared with 12.9% 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 -85.4% for AMLP and -35.7% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AMLP charges 0.85% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $4 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AMLP currently yields 7.83% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in AMLP and 602 in VYM, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in AMLP and 602 in VYM, against full books of 15 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 573 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AMLP (97.9% of the fund), and 14 for AMLP that do not appear in VYM (100.0%).
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 AMLP 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, AMLP or VYM?
AMLP has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AMLP or VYM?
Over the past year AMLP returned +25.14% vs +15.96% for VYM, so AMLP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), AMLP annualized +0.66% vs +10.65% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AMLP or VYM?
AMLP has been the more volatile fund at 25.3% annualized versus 12.9% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AMLP -85.4% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both AMLP and VYM?
AMLP and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, AMLP or VYM?
AMLP yields 7.83% while VYM yields 2.37%, so AMLP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AMLP?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, VYM over 3Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 91.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.