VFIFX vs. VYM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM).
VFIFX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Jun 7, 2006. VYM is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index. It was launched on Feb 7, 2019.
Performance
VFIFX vs. VYM - Performance Comparison
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VFIFX vs. VYM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | -3.95% | 21.42% | 14.45% | 20.39% | -17.48% | 16.42% | 16.40% | 24.99% | -7.89% | 19.15% |
VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 3.80% | 15.42% | 17.60% | 6.57% | -0.43% | 26.20% | 1.15% | 24.06% | -5.92% | 16.42% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFIFX achieves a -3.95% return, which is significantly lower than VYM's 3.80% return. Over the past 10 years, VFIFX has underperformed VYM with an annualized return of 10.29%, while VYM has yielded a comparatively higher 11.24% annualized return.
VFIFX
- 1D
- -0.28%
- 1M
- -8.41%
- YTD
- -3.95%
- 6M
- -1.01%
- 1Y
- 17.29%
- 3Y*
- 14.65%
- 5Y*
- 8.11%
- 10Y*
- 10.29%
VYM
- 1D
- 1.80%
- 1M
- -3.92%
- YTD
- 3.80%
- 6M
- 6.39%
- 1Y
- 17.76%
- 3Y*
- 15.21%
- 5Y*
- 11.04%
- 10Y*
- 11.24%
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VFIFX vs. VYM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIFX has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is higher than VYM's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VFIFX vs. VYM — Risk / Return Rank
VFIFX
VYM
VFIFX vs. VYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VFIFX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.17 | 1.18 | 0.00 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.70 | 1.69 | +0.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.26 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.48 | 1.68 | -0.20 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.86 | 7.46 | -0.60 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VFIFX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.17 | 1.18 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.58 | 0.79 | -0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.69 | 0.69 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.47 | 0.49 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between VFIFX and VYM is 0.89, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VFIFX vs. VYM - Dividend Comparison
VFIFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.18%, less than VYM's 2.37% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIFX Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | 2.18% | 2.09% | 2.26% | 2.21% | 2.38% | 12.83% | 1.84% | 2.20% | 2.51% | 0.03% | 2.04% | 2.36% |
VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 2.37% | 2.44% | 2.74% | 3.12% | 3.01% | 2.76% | 3.18% | 3.03% | 3.40% | 2.80% | 2.91% | 3.22% |
Drawdowns
VFIFX vs. VYM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIFX drawdown since its inception was -51.68%, smaller than the maximum VYM drawdown of -56.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIFX and VYM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFIFX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.68% | -56.98% | +5.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.52% | -11.32% | +0.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.40% | -15.84% | -9.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.36% | -35.21% | +3.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.87% | -4.81% | -4.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.93% | -7.25% | +0.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.27% | 2.55% | -0.28% |
Volatility
VFIFX vs. VYM - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund (VFIFX) has a higher volatility of 4.70% compared to Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) at 3.74%. This indicates that VFIFX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VYM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFIFX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.70% | 3.74% | +0.96% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.53% | 7.96% | +0.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.79% | 15.17% | -0.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.07% | 13.97% | +0.10% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.05% | 16.33% | -1.28% |