BESF vs VYM
Bastion Energy ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, BESF or VYM?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BESF led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%.
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 | BESF | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.81% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $35M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.45% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 46 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +11.86%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +25.06%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 10.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.9% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $16,572Best | $12,792 |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.3% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | EA Series Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 3, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
BESF 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
BESF vs VYM Performance
Bastion Energy ETF (BESF) is an ETF from EA Series Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BESF returned +25.06% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, BESF is up 11.86% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BESF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 10.0% 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 -12.9% for BESF 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BESF charges 0.81% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $81 vs $4 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BESF currently yields 6.45% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
35.7% of BESF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.5% of VYM's money is in holdings BESF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BESF and 602 in VYM, against full books of 46 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 565 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for BESF (96.4% of the fund), and 14 for BESF that do not appear in VYM (64.4%).
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 BESF | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 5.17% | 0.37% | 4.80% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 5.24% | 0.24% | 5.00% |
| EQTEQT Corp. | 4.66% | 0.13% | 4.53% |
| EXEExpand Energy Corp | 4.44% | 0.09% | 4.35% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 4.12% | 0.22% | 3.90% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 4.10% | 0.22% | 3.88% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy Inc - Common | 4.08% | 0.15% | 3.93% |
| OVVOvintiv Inc. | 3.86% | 0.07% | 3.79% |
35.7% of BESF 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, BESF or VYM?
BESF has an expense ratio of 0.81% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BESF or VYM?
Over the past year BESF returned +25.06% vs +15.96% for VYM, so BESF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BESF annualized +43.45% vs +19.23% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BESF or VYM?
BESF has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 10.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: BESF -12.9% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both BESF and VYM?
BESF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 BESF and VYM?
35.7% of BESF's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.5% of VYM's is in holdings BESF also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BESF and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BESF or VYM?
BESF yields 6.45% while VYM yields 2.37%, so BESF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than BESF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. BESF led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.