SYLD vs VUSE
Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF vs Vident US Equity Strategy ETF
Which is better, SYLD or VUSE?
Each has led over a different period.
VUSE has a lower expense ratio. SYLD led over 1Y and the full window, VUSE over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SYLD is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.3%.
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 | SYLD | VUSE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.50%Best |
| AUM | $987M | $684M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.82% | 0.33% |
| Holdings | 200 | 248 |
| YTD Return | +16.89%Best | +10.16% |
| 1Y Return | +21.10%Best | +10.16% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.08% | +16.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.60% | +11.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 17.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.4%Best | -45.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,423 | $17,234Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.4%Best | 28.3% |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | Vident Financial |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | May 13, 2013 | Jan 22, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 22, 2014 to Oct 14, 2026 (12.7 years).
SYLD vs VUSE 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
SYLD vs VUSE Performance
Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and Vident US Equity Strategy ETF (VUSE) is an ETF from Vident Financial. Over the past year SYLD returned +21.10% while VUSE returned +10.16%. Year to date, SYLD is up 16.89% versus a gain of 10.16% for VUSE.
Over three years, SYLD compounded at +12.08% per year against +16.04% for VUSE; over five years the annualized figures are +7.60% and +11.50% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SYLD has the edge at +11.22% annualized vs +9.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SYLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 17.2% for VUSE. 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 -45.4% for SYLD and -45.5% for VUSE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SYLD charges 0.59% per year while VUSE charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $50 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SYLD currently yields 1.82% against 0.33% for VUSE.
Holdings Overlap
4.0% of SYLD's money is in holdings VUSE also owns. 3.1% of VUSE's money is in holdings SYLD also owns.
SYLD and VUSE share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in SYLD and 123 in VUSE, against full books of 200 and 248.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 118 positions for VUSE that do not appear in our book for SYLD (96.4% of the fund), and 96 for SYLD that do not appear in VUSE (95.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SYLD and VUSE 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, SYLD or VUSE?
SYLD has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VUSE charges 0.50%. VUSE is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SYLD or VUSE?
Over the past year SYLD returned +21.10% vs +10.16% for VUSE, so SYLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SYLD annualized +11.22% vs +9.17% for VUSE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SYLD or VUSE?
SYLD has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 17.2% for VUSE. Worst drawdown: SYLD -45.4% vs VUSE -45.5%.
Should I hold both SYLD and VUSE?
SYLD and VUSE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SYLD and VUSE?
4.0% of SYLD's money is in holdings VUSE also owns. 3.1% of VUSE's is in holdings SYLD also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in SYLD and 123 in VUSE.
Which pays a higher dividend, SYLD or VUSE?
SYLD yields 1.82% while VUSE yields 0.33%, so SYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VUSE better than SYLD?
VUSE has a lower expense ratio. SYLD led over 1Y and the full window, VUSE over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SYLD is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 28.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.