State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) 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 SPYM returned +19.58% while VYM returned +23.76%. Year to date, SPYM is up 9.92% versus a gain of 13.24% for VYM.

Over three years, SPYM compounded at +19.40% per year against +16.97% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.89% and +12.26% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPYM has the edge at +12.54% annualized vs +6.96%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

SPYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% 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 -34.3% for SPYM 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

SPYM charges 0.02% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPYM currently yields 1.03% against 2.86% for VYM.