PEXL vs VYM
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PEXL or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PEXL 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 40.0%.
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 | PEXL | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $56M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 202 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +18.49%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +27.42%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.91%Best | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.72%Best | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.9% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,404Best | $17,241 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.0% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 23, 2018 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (8.2 years).
PEXL 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 8.2 years both funds cover.
PEXL vs VYM Performance
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF (PEXL) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PEXL returned +27.42% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, PEXL is up 18.49% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Over three years, PEXL compounded at +20.91% per year against +18.60% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.72% and +11.51% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, PEXL has the edge at +14.07% annualized vs +10.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PEXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 15.4% 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 -36.9% for PEXL 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PEXL 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, PEXL currently yields 0.35% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
32.6% of PEXL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 19.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PEXL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
29 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 602 in VYM, against full books of 202 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 544 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PEXL (78.7% of the fund), and 69 for PEXL that do not appear in VYM (66.5%).
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 PEXL | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.61% | 6.94% | 2.33% |
| KOCoca-Cola Co/The | 3.38% | 1.39% | 1.99% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 3.05% | 1.36% | 1.69% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 2.68% | 1.18% | 1.50% |
| TXNTexas Instruments Inc. | 2.34% | 0.96% | 1.38% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 1.94% | 0.89% | 1.05% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 1.79% | 0.71% | 1.08% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.74% | 0.72% | 1.02% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 1.53% | 0.77% | 0.76% |
| MCDMcdonald'S Corp | 1.50% | 0.75% | 0.75% |
32.6% of PEXL 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, PEXL or VYM?
PEXL 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, PEXL or VYM?
Over the past year PEXL returned +27.42% vs +15.96% for VYM, so PEXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PEXL annualized +14.07% vs +10.08% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PEXL or VYM?
PEXL has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 15.4% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PEXL -36.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PEXL and VYM?
PEXL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 PEXL and VYM?
32.6% of PEXL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 19.2% of VYM's is in holdings PEXL also owns. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PEXL or VYM?
PEXL yields 0.35% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PEXL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PEXL 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 40.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.