RCTR vs VYM
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, RCTR or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | RCTR | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $30M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 100 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +1.04% | +13.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.20% | +17.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.16% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 9.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.0% | -6.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,206 | $12,338Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.6% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.1 years).
RCTR vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
RCTR vs VYM Performance
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RCTR returned +9.20% while VYM returned +17.82%. Year to date, RCTR is up 1.04% versus a gain of 13.15% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RCTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 9.2% 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 -19.0% for RCTR and -6.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RCTR charges 0.70% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $4 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RCTR currently yields 0.62% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
14.3% of RCTR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings RCTR also owns.
RCTR and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, RCTR as of Sep 1, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 603 in VYM, against full books of 100 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 564 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for RCTR (96.3% of the fund), and 11 for RCTR that do not appear in VYM (27.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RCTR and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RCTR or VYM?
RCTR has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RCTR or VYM?
Over the past year RCTR returned +9.20% vs +17.82% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RCTR annualized +10.91% vs +21.05% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RCTR or VYM?
RCTR has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 9.2% for VYM. Worst drawdown: RCTR -19.0% vs VYM -6.7%.
Should I hold both RCTR and VYM?
RCTR and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RCTR and VYM?
14.3% of RCTR's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.1% of VYM's is in holdings RCTR also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, RCTR or VYM?
RCTR yields 0.62% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than RCTR?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. VYM led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.