GDMA vs VYM
Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GDMA or VYM?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.2%.
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 | GDMA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.78% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $194M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.65% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 37 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +3.40% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.65% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.30% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.88% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.7%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,947 | $17,241Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 74.2% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Gadsden Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 14, 2018 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.9 years).
GDMA 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
GDMA vs VYM Performance
Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF (GDMA) is an ETF from Gadsden Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDMA returned +4.65% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, GDMA is up 3.40% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, GDMA compounded at +12.30% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +6.88% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +10.55% annualized vs +8.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 10.0% for GDMA. 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 -16.7% for GDMA 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDMA charges 0.78% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $78 vs $4 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDMA currently yields 2.65% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 22 holdings in GDMA and 602 in VYM, totalling 100.1% 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 22 positions we hold weights for in GDMA and 602 in VYM, against full books of 37 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 573 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GDMA (97.9% of the fund), and 20 for GDMA that do not appear in VYM (98.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDMA 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, GDMA or VYM?
GDMA has an expense ratio of 0.78% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDMA or VYM?
Over the past year GDMA returned +4.65% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), GDMA annualized +8.11% vs +10.55% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDMA or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 10.0% for GDMA. Worst drawdown: GDMA -16.7% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GDMA and VYM?
GDMA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, GDMA or VYM?
GDMA yields 2.65% while VYM yields 2.37%, so GDMA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GDMA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.