VYM vs DVY Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VYM and DVY are both high-dividend-yield US equity ETFs but with different approaches. VYM provides broader diversification (450+ stocks) at minimal cost (0.06%); DVY provides higher concentration in the highest-yielding stocks (100 stocks) at higher cost (0.38%). DVY's higher yield comes at the cost of concentration risk and 6x the expense ratio. For most income investors, VYM's combination of yield, diversification, and cost is superior.
VYM vs DVY is broad dividend yield diversification at minimum cost (VYM) versus concentrated high-dividend-yield exposure at significantly higher expense (DVY) — VYM's cost advantage and broader diversification make it the preferred dividend ETF for most income investors, unless DVY's higher yield specifically is required.
DVY holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. DVY has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+16.68% vs +15.98% for VYM).
- prefer maximum dividend ETF diversification at minimum 0.06% cost across 450+ dividend-paying US companies
- value broad sector exposure including financials, healthcare, consumer staples, and energy alongside dividend yield
- want above-market dividend income at the lowest possible cost for a diversified dividend allocation
- are comfortable with lower yield than DVY in exchange for broader diversification and dramatically lower expense ratio
- prefer higher dividend yield through concentrated exposure to the 100 highest-yielding dividend stocks meeting payout consistency screens
- value DVY's dividend sustainability screening (payout ratio and growth history filters) reducing dividend cut risk vs unscreened high-yield approaches
- want maximum income yield from a US equity ETF and accept the higher 0.38% expense ratio for the yield premium
- are comfortable with utilities and financials concentration and lower breadth (100 stocks) compared to VYM's 450+ holdings
| Metric | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 80.0 | 75.0 |
| Latest closei | $159.26 | $158.24 |
| 1M returni | -3.14% | -3.58% |
| 6M returni | +11.00% | +10.20% |
| 1Y returni | +15.98% | +16.68% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.96K (+19.6%) started 2025-09-18 | $12.09K (+20.9%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $21.11K (+111.1%) started 2021-09-20 | $20.54K (+105.4%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $43.02K (+330.2%) started 2016-09-19 | $41.29K (+312.9%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.38% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $100.84B | $23.61B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.22% | 3.24% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 20.01 | 15.05 |
| Betai | 0.75 | 0.70 |
| 52-week change | 15.98% | 16.68% |
| Metric | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +15.98% | +16.68% |
| 6M returni | +11.00% | +10.20% |
| 1M returni | -3.14% | -3.58% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.07 | 1.04 |
| Betai | 0.75 | 0.70 |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.22% | 3.24% |
| 5Y CAGR | +12.42% | +10.82% |
Over the past year, VYM and DVY have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.76), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +15.98% | +16.68% |
| CAGRi | +15.99% | +16.69% | |
| Volatilityi | 10.20% | 11.12% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.07 | 1.04 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.59 | 1.55 | |
| Max drawdowni | 6.69% | 6.89% | |
| Current drawdowni | 4.12% | 3.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.25% | 1.49% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 1.91% | 2.01% | |
| Max daily dropi | 2.03% | 1.79% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 2.88% | 3.46% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +79.44% | +67.01% |
| CAGRi | +12.42% | +10.82% | |
| Volatilityi | 13.82% | 15.06% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.59 | 0.46 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.85 | 0.66 | |
| Max drawdowni | 15.85% | 17.54% | |
| Current drawdowni | 4.12% | 3.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.93% | 4.74% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 4.24% | 6.38% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.70% | 5.41% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.80% | 11.78% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +202.47% | +166.32% |
| CAGRi | +11.71% | +10.30% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.27% | 18.00% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.49 | 0.39 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.68 | 0.54 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.21% | 41.59% | |
| Current drawdowni | 4.12% | 3.60% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.52% | 5.00% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.66% | 7.88% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.06% | 11.09% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 19.13% | 21.85% |
| Category | VYM | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares | iShares Select Dividend ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.38% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $100.84B | $23.61B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.22% | 3.24% |
- Broad diversification across 450+ stocks reduces single-stock and single-sector risk while maintaining above-market yield
- 0.06% expense ratio is among the lowest for dividend-focused ETFs — minimal cost drag on income production
- Includes financials (banks, insurance) providing dividend yield in rate-rising environments that benefits from higher rates
- Higher dividend yield than VYM — DVY screens for higher-yield stocks that meet payout consistency requirements
- Dividend sustainability screening (payout ratio filter) reduces likelihood of dividend cuts in the portfolio vs unscreened high-yield approaches
- 100-stock concentration means DVY is more directly exposed to the highest-yielding dividend stocks without dilution from lower-yield names
- Yield focus rather than growth focus means VYM may hold more yield traps (high yield from falling stock prices) than growth-oriented SCHD
- No REITs exclusion at VYM but REITs are excluded from the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index — sector composition can shift
- Technology underweighted vs S&P 500 — VYM's dividend focus naturally reduces exposure to low/no-dividend tech growth stocks
- 0.38% expense ratio vs VYM's 0.06% — DVY is 6x more expensive for the yield premium it provides over VYM
- Heavy utilities and financial concentration can lead to significant underperformance vs broader market in technology-led bull markets
- 100 stocks vs VYM's 450+ means single-stock dividend cut impacts DVY more meaningfully
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