VYM vs XRLV
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs Invesco S&P 500 ex-Rate Sensitive Low Volatility ETF
Which is better, VYM or XRLV?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, XRLV over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. XRLV is less concentrated, with 12.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%.
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 | VYM | XRLV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $78.9B | $29M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.37% | 2.08% |
| Holdings | 608 | 102 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7%Best | -38.3% |
| $10,000 over 10.9 years | $26,282 | $27,954Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.8% | 12.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Apr 6, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 236 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. VYM has data through Oct 14, 2026 and XRLV through Feb 20, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 9, 2015 to Feb 20, 2026 (10.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.5% for XRLV. 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 -35.7% for VYM and -38.3% for XRLV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while XRLV charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $25 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.37% against 2.08% for XRLV.
Holdings Overlap
22.9% of VYM's money is in holdings XRLV also owns. 65.0% of XRLV's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 335 days apart, VYM as of Aug 31, 2026 and XRLV as of Sep 30, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
64 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 100 in XRLV, against full books of 608 and 102.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 35 positions for XRLV that do not appear in our book for VYM (34.0% of the fund), and 510 for VYM that do not appear in XRLV (75.4%).
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 VYM | Weight in XRLV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.58% | 1.20% | 1.38% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.76% | 0.92% | 0.84% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.39% | 1.15% | 0.24% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.36% | 1.05% | 0.31% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 1.32% | 0.91% | 0.41% |
| LINLinde Plc (united Kingdom) | 0.91% | 1.09% | 0.18% |
| MCDMcdonald'S Corp | 0.75% | 1.04% | 0.29% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.77% | 1.00% | 0.23% |
| VZVerizon Wireless | 0.84% | 0.91% | 0.07% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.77% | 0.97% | 0.20% |
65.0% of XRLV 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VYM or XRLV?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while XRLV charges 0.25%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VYM or XRLV?
VYM has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.5% for XRLV. Worst drawdown: VYM -35.7% vs XRLV -38.3%.
Should I hold both VYM and XRLV?
VYM and XRLV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 VYM and XRLV?
65.0% of XRLV's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 65.0% of XRLV's is in holdings VYM also owns. They hold 64 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 100 in XRLV.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or XRLV?
VYM yields 2.37% while XRLV yields 2.08%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XRLV better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y, XRLV over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. XRLV is less concentrated, with 12.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.