VWEAX vs. VYM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares (VWEAX) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM).
VWEAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. 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
VWEAX vs. VYM - Performance Comparison
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VWEAX vs. VYM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWEAX Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares | -1.14% | 9.49% | 6.42% | 11.79% | -8.95% | 3.04% | 5.41% | 15.92% | -2.80% | 7.17% |
VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 3.69% | 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, VWEAX achieves a -1.14% return, which is significantly lower than VYM's 3.69% return. Over the past 10 years, VWEAX has underperformed VYM with an annualized return of 5.28%, while VYM has yielded a comparatively higher 11.22% annualized return.
VWEAX
- 1D
- 0.55%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- -1.14%
- 6M
- 0.60%
- 1Y
- 6.57%
- 3Y*
- 7.65%
- 5Y*
- 3.99%
- 10Y*
- 5.28%
VYM
- 1D
- -0.10%
- 1M
- -4.02%
- YTD
- 3.69%
- 6M
- 6.19%
- 1Y
- 17.89%
- 3Y*
- 15.17%
- 5Y*
- 11.02%
- 10Y*
- 11.22%
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VWEAX vs. VYM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWEAX has a 0.13% 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
VWEAX vs. VYM — Risk / Return Rank
VWEAX
VYM
VWEAX vs. VYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares (VWEAX) 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.
| VWEAX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.92 | 1.19 | +0.74 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.90 | 1.70 | +1.20 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.47 | 1.26 | +0.21 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.83 | 1.56 | +1.27 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.54 | 6.86 | +4.68 |
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
| VWEAX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.92 | 1.19 | +0.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.82 | 0.79 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.01 | 0.69 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.22 | 0.49 | +0.73 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWEAX and VYM is 0.31, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VWEAX vs. VYM - Dividend Comparison
VWEAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.88%, more than VYM's 2.37% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWEAX Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares | 5.88% | 6.25% | 6.20% | 5.79% | 5.21% | 3.49% | 4.71% | 5.33% | 6.07% | 5.39% | 5.51% | 6.53% |
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
VWEAX vs. VYM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWEAX drawdown since its inception was -30.05%, smaller than the maximum VYM drawdown of -56.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWEAX and VYM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWEAX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -30.05% | -56.98% | +26.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.52% | -11.32% | +8.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -13.77% | -15.84% | +2.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -19.68% | -35.21% | +15.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.80% | -4.91% | +3.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.13% | -7.25% | +5.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.62% | 2.57% | -1.95% |
Volatility
VWEAX vs. VYM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund Admiral Shares (VWEAX) is 1.39%, while Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has a volatility of 3.60%. This indicates that VWEAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| VWEAX | VYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.39% | 3.60% | -2.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.31% | 7.96% | -5.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.46% | 15.14% | -11.68% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.86% | 13.97% | -9.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 5.27% | 16.33% | -11.06% |