VYM vs. SPHD

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD).

VYM and SPHD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. SPHD is a passively managed fund by Invesco that tracks the performance of the S&P Low Volatility High Dividend index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012. Both VYM and SPHD are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

VYM vs. SPHD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VYM vs. SPHD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
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%
SPHD Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF	4.26%	3.41%	18.08%	1.32%	0.58%	24.98%	-9.98%	20.26%	-6.17%	11.90%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VYM achieves a 3.69% return, which is significantly lower than SPHD's 4.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VYM has outperformed SPHD with an annualized return of 11.22%, while SPHD has yielded a comparatively lower 7.20% annualized return.

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%

SPHD

• 1D: -0.36%
• 1M: -5.48%
• YTD: 4.26%
• 6M: 1.88%
• 1Y: 3.30%
• 3Y*: 9.85%
• 5Y*: 6.98%
• 10Y*: 7.20%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VYM vs. SPHD - Expense Ratio Comparison

VYM has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than SPHD's 0.30% expense ratio.

SPHD

Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF

VYM

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

Return for Risk

VYM vs. SPHD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VYM

VYM Risk / Return Rank: 65
VYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
VYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
VYM Omega Ratio Rank: 68
VYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
VYM Martin Ratio Rank: 66

SPHD

SPHD Risk / Return Rank: 17
SPHD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 17
SPHD Sortino Ratio Rank: 16
SPHD Omega Ratio Rank: 16
SPHD Calmar Ratio Rank: 17
SPHD Martin Ratio Rank: 17

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VYM vs. SPHD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD). 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.

	VYM	SPHD	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.19	0.23	+0.96
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.70	0.42	+1.28
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.26	1.05	+0.20
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.56	0.25	+1.31
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	6.86	0.80	+6.05
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VYM vs. SPHD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VYM Sharpe Ratio is 1.19, which is higher than the SPHD Sharpe Ratio of 0.23. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VYM and SPHD, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VYM	SPHD	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.19	0.23	+0.96
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79	0.49	+0.30
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.69	0.41	+0.28
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.49	0.58	-0.10

Correlation

The correlation between VYM and SPHD is 0.87, 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

VYM vs. SPHD - Dividend Comparison

VYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.37%, less than SPHD's 4.32% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
SPHD Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF	4.32%	4.02%	3.41%	4.48%	3.89%	3.45%	4.89%	4.07%	4.40%	3.14%	3.83%	3.49%

Drawdowns

VYM vs. SPHD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VYM drawdown since its inception was -56.98%, which is greater than SPHD's maximum drawdown of -41.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VYM and SPHD.

Drawdown Indicators

	VYM	SPHD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-56.98%	-41.39%	-15.59%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.32%	-11.33%	+0.01%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.84%	-19.50%	+3.66%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-35.21%	-41.39%	+6.18%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.91%	-5.48%	+0.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.25%	-4.70%	-2.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.57%	3.53%	-0.96%

Volatility

VYM vs. SPHD - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has a higher volatility of 3.60% compared to Invesco S&P 500® High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD) at 3.15%. This indicates that VYM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPHD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VYM	SPHD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.60%	3.15%	+0.45%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	7.96%	7.86%	+0.10%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.14%	14.46%	+0.68%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.97%	14.20%	-0.23%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.33%	17.65%	-1.32%