NUSA vs VYM
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, NUSA or VYM?
Short Term Bond 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 55.4%.
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 | NUSA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.14% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $36M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.95% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 692 | 608 |
| YTD Return | -0.22% | +11.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.39% | +15.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.15% | +18.60%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.40% | +11.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.9%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,720 | $17,241Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.5 years).
NUSA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
NUSA vs VYM Performance
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, NUSA is down 0.22% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, NUSA compounded at +4.15% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +1.40% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.73% annualized vs +0.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 2.5% for NUSA. 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 -9.9% for NUSA 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUSA charges 0.14% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $14 vs $4 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUSA currently yields 3.95% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
18.9% of NUSA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.8% of VYM's money is in holdings NUSA also owns.
NUSA and VYM share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 602 in VYM, against full books of 692 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 565 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for NUSA (85.1% of the fund), and 23 for NUSA that do not appear in VYM (78.7%).
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 NUSA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.24% | 6.94% | 2.70% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.34% | 3.83% | 0.49% |
| VLOValero Energy | 3.89% | 0.43% | 3.46% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.78% | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| CMEC M E Group Inc. | 2.25% | 0.42% | 1.83% |
| RYANRyan Specialty Group Holdings Inc | 1.45% | 0.02% | 1.43% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc . | 0.98% | 0.13% | 0.85% |
| TSCOTractor Supply Co. | 1.01% | 0.07% | 0.94% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUSA 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, NUSA or VYM?
NUSA has an expense ratio of 0.14% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUSA or VYM?
Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% vs +15.96% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUSA annualized +0.87% vs +9.73% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUSA or VYM?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 2.5% for NUSA. Worst drawdown: NUSA -9.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both NUSA and VYM?
NUSA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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 NUSA and VYM?
18.9% of NUSA's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 12.8% of VYM's is in holdings NUSA also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUSA or VYM?
NUSA yields 3.95% while VYM yields 2.37%, so NUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than NUSA?
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 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.