ESSC vs VYM
Eventide Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ESSC or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.6% 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 | ESSC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $34M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.60% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 1,117 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +8.23% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.50% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 10.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.2% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,169 | $11,500Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.6%Best | 25.8% |
| Fund Family | Eventide | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
ESSC 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 years both funds cover.
ESSC vs VYM Performance
Eventide Small Cap ETF (ESSC) is an ETF from Eventide and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ESSC returned +11.50% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, ESSC is up 8.23% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 10.8% 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 -12.2% for ESSC 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESSC 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, ESSC currently yields 0.60% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
25.7% of ESSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.6% of VYM's money is in holdings ESSC also owns.
ESSC and VYM share little of their money.
70 positions in common, counted across the 357 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 602 in VYM, against full books of 1,117 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 505 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ESSC (95.2% of the fund), and 279 for ESSC that do not appear in VYM (72.6%).
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 ESSC | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNBFnb Corp/pa Common Stock Usd.01 | 0.76% | 0.03% | 0.73% |
| ASBAssociated Banc-Corp | 0.75% | 0.02% | 0.73% |
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 0.74% | 0.02% | 0.72% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc Common Stock Usd 1 | 0.68% | 0.03% | 0.65% |
| NWBINorthwest Bancshares Inc Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 0.69% | 0.01% | 0.68% |
| SFNCSimmons First National Corp., Class A | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
| GATXGATX Corporation | 0.67% | 0.02% | 0.65% |
| WSBCWesbanco, Inc. | 0.65% | 0.02% | 0.63% |
| RRCRange Resources Corp | 0.61% | 0.04% | 0.57% |
| BKHBlack Hills Corp | 0.61% | 0.02% | 0.59% |
25.7% of ESSC 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, ESSC or VYM?
ESSC 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, ESSC or VYM?
Over the past year ESSC returned +11.50% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ESSC annualized +11.69% vs +15.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESSC or VYM?
ESSC has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 10.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ESSC -12.2% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both ESSC and VYM?
ESSC 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 ESSC and VYM?
25.7% of ESSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.6% of VYM's is in holdings ESSC also owns. They hold 70 positions in common, counted across the 357 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESSC or VYM?
ESSC yields 0.60% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ESSC?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.6% 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.