VYM vs YMAX
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF vs YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF
Which is better, VYM or YMAX?
Large Cap Value against Option Writing.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%.
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 | VYM | YMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 1.33% |
| AUM | $78.9B | $370M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.37% | 70.90% |
| Holdings | 608 | 60 |
| YTD Return | +11.83%Best | +5.14% |
| 1Y Return | +15.96%Best | -3.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.60% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.51% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 19.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -26.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $15,438Best | $14,117 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.8%Best | 47.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Option Writing |
| Inception | Nov 10, 2006 | Jan 16, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.7 years).
VYM vs YMAX 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
VYM vs YMAX Performance
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAX) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year VYM returned +15.96% while YMAX returned -3.33%. Year to date, VYM is up 11.83% versus a gain of 5.14% for YMAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YMAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 10.7% 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 -14.5% for VYM and -26.1% for YMAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VYM charges 0.04% per year while YMAX charges 1.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $133 annually, a gap of $129 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VYM currently yields 2.37% against 70.90% for YMAX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 602 holdings in VYM and 29 in YMAX, totalling 100.0% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 602 positions we hold weights for in VYM and 29 in YMAX, against full books of 608 and 60.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 29 positions for YMAX that do not appear in our book for VYM (99.8% of the fund), and 573 for VYM that do not appear in YMAX (97.9%).
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 VYM and YMAX 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, VYM or YMAX?
VYM has an expense ratio of 0.04% while YMAX charges 1.33%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $129 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VYM or YMAX?
Over the past year VYM returned +15.96% vs -3.33% for YMAX, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VYM or YMAX?
YMAX has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 10.7% for VYM. Worst drawdown: VYM -14.5% vs YMAX -26.1%.
Should I hold both VYM and YMAX?
VYM and YMAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or YMAX?
VYM yields 2.37% while YMAX yields 70.90%, so YMAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YMAX better than VYM?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.