SFTY vs VYM
Horizon Managed Risk ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SFTY or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SFTY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
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 | SFTY | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.77% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $818M | $78.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 336 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +13.47%Best | +11.83% |
| 1Y Return | +16.90%Best | +15.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5% | 10.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.6% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,688Best | $12,401 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.9% | 25.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.3 years).
SFTY 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
SFTY vs VYM Performance
Horizon Managed Risk ETF (SFTY) is an ETF from Horizon Funds and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SFTY returned +16.90% while VYM returned +15.96%. Year to date, SFTY is up 13.47% versus a gain of 11.83% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SFTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 10.5% compared with 10.0% 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 -8.6% for SFTY and -6.7% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SFTY charges 0.77% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $77 vs $4 annually, a gap of $73 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SFTY currently yields 0.17% against 2.37% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
31.7% of SFTY's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 65.9% of VYM's money is in holdings SFTY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
82 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in SFTY and 602 in VYM, against full books of 336 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for SFTY (31.9% of the fund), and 85 for SFTY that do not appear in VYM (68.3%).
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 SFTY | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.75% | 6.94% | 4.19% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.76% | 3.83% | 3.07% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 1.52% | 2.70% | 1.18% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.52% | 2.58% | 1.06% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.96% | 1.54% | 0.58% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 0.68% | 1.76% | 1.08% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.88% | 1.47% | 0.59% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.60% | 1.65% | 1.05% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.84% | 1.39% | 0.55% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.34% | 1.83% | 1.49% |
65.9% of VYM is already inside SFTY.
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, SFTY or VYM?
SFTY has an expense ratio of 0.77% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SFTY or VYM?
Over the past year SFTY returned +16.90% vs +15.96% for VYM, so SFTY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SFTY annualized +20.10% vs +18.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SFTY or VYM?
SFTY has been the more volatile fund at 10.5% annualized versus 10.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: SFTY -8.6% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both SFTY and VYM?
SFTY and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 SFTY and VYM?
65.9% of VYM's money is in holdings SFTY also owns. 65.9% of VYM's is in holdings SFTY also owns. They hold 82 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in SFTY and 602 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SFTY or VYM?
SFTY yields 0.17% while VYM yields 2.37%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than SFTY?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. SFTY led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.