GSSC vs VYM
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, GSSC or VYM?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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 | GSSC | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 2,826 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +12.51%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +13.47% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.80% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.56% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.5% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,740 | $17,241Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.7%Best | 25.8% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.3 years).
GSSC 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 9.3 years both funds cover.
GSSC vs VYM Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF (GSSC) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GSSC returned +13.47% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, GSSC is up 12.51% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, GSSC compounded at +16.80% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +6.56% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.90% annualized vs +9.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GSSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 14.8% 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 -42.5% for GSSC 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSSC charges 0.20% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $4 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSSC currently yields 1.00% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
15.6% of GSSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.4% of VYM's money is in holdings GSSC also owns.
GSSC and VYM share little of their money.
170 positions in common, counted across the 1,377 positions we hold weights for in GSSC and 602 in VYM, against full books of 2,826 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 409 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for GSSC (95.5% of the fund), and 1,136 for GSSC that do not appear in VYM (81.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GSSC | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMBFUmb Financial Corp. | 0.25% | 0.04% | 0.21% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| VLYValley National Bancorp | 0.20% | 0.03% | 0.17% |
| MCYMercury General Corp | 0.22% | 0.01% | 0.21% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 0.18% | 0.04% | 0.14% |
| NTBBank Of N.T.Butterfield & Son Limited (The) Ordinary Shares | 0.20% | 0.01% | 0.19% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.19% | 0.02% | 0.17% |
| PBFPbf Energy Inc | 0.17% | 0.03% | 0.14% |
| FBPFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 0.18% | 0.02% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GSSC 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, GSSC or VYM?
GSSC has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSSC or VYM?
Over the past year GSSC returned +13.47% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GSSC annualized +9.12% vs +9.90% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSSC or VYM?
GSSC has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 14.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: GSSC -42.5% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both GSSC and VYM?
GSSC and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 GSSC and VYM?
15.6% of GSSC's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 2.4% of VYM's is in holdings GSSC also owns. They hold 170 positions in common, counted across the 1,377 positions we hold weights for in GSSC and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, GSSC or VYM?
GSSC yields 1.00% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than GSSC?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 3.7% 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.