Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX) is a mutual fund from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWTSX returned -82.49% while VYM returned +26.05%. Year to date, SWTSX is up 13.87% versus a gain of 15.45% for VYM.

Over three years, SWTSX compounded at -37.47% per year against +17.96% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -24.98% and +12.54% respectively. Across the full 5-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.06% annualized vs -24.98%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

SWTSX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.7% 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 -86.0% for SWTSX 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 0.22. They move independently enough that combining them can meaningfully diversify a portfolio.

SWTSX charges 0.03% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SWTSX currently yields 0.99% against 2.86% for VYM.