State Street SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF (SPGM) is a ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPGM returned +26.36% while VYM returned +25.56%. Year to date, SPGM is up 13.82% versus a gain of 15.20% for VYM.

Over three years, SPGM compounded at +20.27% per year against +17.86% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.53% and +12.35% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPGM has the edge at +9.86% annualized vs +7.05%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

VYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 13.6% for SPGM. 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 -34.0% for SPGM 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

SPGM charges 0.09% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $4 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPGM currently yields 1.80% against 2.86% for VYM.