State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SLYG returned +32.10% while VYM returned +25.56%. Year to date, SLYG is up 23.71% versus a gain of 15.20% for VYM.

Over three years, SLYG compounded at +14.83% per year against +17.86% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +6.57% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.05% annualized vs +6.48%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

SLYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% compared with 14.6% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -62.1% for SLYG and -58.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

SLYG charges 0.15% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $4 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLYG currently yields 0.64% against 2.86% for VYM.