VYM — Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares

Overview

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYM) operates within the Dividend Income category, which ETFValuer currently tracks with 8 distinct funds. Issued by Vanguard, this fund has accumulated $96.2 billion in assets under management, reflecting significant investor adoption relative to its $159.79 share price. It holds an overall rank of #4 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and carries an ETFValuer grade of B+ with a score of 82.0. The fund offers a low cost structure with an expense ratio of 0.04% while providing a dividend yield of 2.30%. This combination of substantial assets, high ranking, and low fees positions the fund as a widely utilized vehicle for income-focused investors. The data suggests strong market confidence given the fund's ability to maintain a large asset base while delivering a competitive yield profile.

Over the most recent trading day, the fund declined by 0.53% before recovering to post a 1.11% gain over the one-week period. Monthly performance showed a 1.61% increase, which accelerated significantly to a 7.84% return over three months. The upward momentum continued into the six-month horizon with a 10.91% gain, while year-to-date returns reached 11.72%. Annual performance for the last year stood at 21.56%, slightly below the one-year return of its closest category peer SCHD at 23.90% and above peer DGRO at 21.09%. The three-year return figure stands at 61.75%, indicating a sustained positive trend over the longer term. This trajectory demonstrates a pattern of consistent growth that has strengthened as the investment horizon extends from daily fluctuations to multi-year periods.

VYM carries a Low volatility label and a beta of 0.69, indicating that the fund's price movements have historically been less sensitive to broader market fluctuations. This lower sensitivity is reflected in a maximum drawdown of -14.46%, suggesting the fund experienced a peak-to-trough decline of that magnitude during the measured period. The fund has achieved a Sharpe ratio of 1.61, which implies that the returns generated have been efficient relative to the amount of risk taken. The combination of a beta below 1.0 and a low volatility classification suggests the fund tends to exhibit smoother price action compared to the general market. These metrics collectively describe a profile where downside protection and risk-adjusted returns are prioritized alongside capital appreciation.

AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.

VYM Top Holdings

Holdings as of 2026-04-30 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing.

Market Backdrop

10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.55% (as of 2026-07-07) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 16.13 (as of 2026-07-07) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.

Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.

VYM Performance History

How VYM Compares to Other Dividend Income ETFs