LDRH vs VYM
iShares iBonds 1-5 Year High Yield and Income Ladder ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, LDRH or VYM?
VYM has been ahead.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | LDRH | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $24M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.52% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 1,267 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +0.24% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.64% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.3%Best | 10.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.2%Best | -14.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $10,750 | $12,586Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 7, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 8, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
LDRH 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
LDRH vs VYM Performance
iShares iBonds 1-5 Year High Yield and Income Ladder ETF (LDRH) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LDRH returned +1.64% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, LDRH is up 0.24% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.9% compared with 2.3% for LDRH. 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 -3.2% for LDRH and -14.5% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LDRH charges 0.35% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $4 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LDRH currently yields 6.52% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VYM's money is in holdings LDRH also owns.
Stated as a floor: for LDRH, our book for it covers 9.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
5 positions in common, counted across the 92 positions we hold weights for in LDRH and 602 in VYM, against full books of 1,267 and 608.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LDRH 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, LDRH or VYM?
LDRH has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LDRH or VYM?
Over the past year LDRH returned +1.64% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LDRH annualized +3.88% vs +12.87% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LDRH or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 10.9% annualized versus 2.3% for LDRH. Worst drawdown: LDRH -3.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both LDRH and VYM?
LDRH and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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, LDRH or VYM?
LDRH yields 6.52% while VYM yields 2.37%, so LDRH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than LDRH?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.