ETF Versus

SGOV vs VYM

iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares

Last updated: 2026-04-02

iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to short-duration U.S. Treasury bonds with low interest rate risk. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.01%. Launched in 2020, the fund has a 6-year track record.

AUM: $83.3B ER: 0.09% Yield: 4.01% Since: May 26, 2020
VYM Vanguard

Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYM) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.37%. Launched in 2006, the fund has a 20-year track record.

AUM: $71.3B ER: 0.04% Yield: 2.37% Since: Nov 10, 2006

Quick Verdict

VYM has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.04% vs 0.09%), saving about $99 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, VYM has significantly outperformed with a 15.0% return vs 0.0%. Income investors may prefer SGOV for its higher yield (4.0% vs 2.4%).

Key Metrics

Metric SGOV VYM
Expense Ratio 0.09% 0.04%
Dividend Yield 4.0% 2.4%
Fund Family N/A Vanguard
Category US Short-Term Treasury US Dividend

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

90 103 116 129 142 155 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
SGOV +0.4%
VYM +44.6%

Performance Comparison

Period SGOV VYM Difference
1 Month +0.01% -4.59% +4.60%
3 Months -0.02% +2.20% -2.22%
6 Months -0.03% +4.52% -4.55%
YTD -0.02% +2.20% -2.22%
1 Year +0.04% +14.98% -14.94%
3 Years +0.16% +39.18% -39.02%
5 Years +0.37% +44.55% -44.18%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period SGOV Fees VYM Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $179 $80 $99
$10.000 20 years $771 $344 $427
$10.000 30 years $2.486 $1.112 $1.373
$50.000 10 years $896 $399 $497
$50.000 30 years $12.428 $5.560 $6.867
$100.000 30 years $24.855 $11.121 $13.734

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric SGOV VYM
Annualized Volatility 1.1% 14.0%
Max Drawdown -0.7% -17.5%
Sharpe Ratio -4.13 0.28

Dividend Comparison

Metric SGOV VYM
Annual Dividend (per share) $4.02 $3.51
Dividend Yield 4.00% 2.37%
Distribution Frequency Monthly Quarterly

Top Holdings

VYM Top Holdings

NameWeight
Broadcom Inc.AVGO6.48%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM3.36%
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM2.83%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ2.63%
Walmart Inc.WMT2.44%
AbbVie Inc.ABBV1.81%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG1.72%
The Home Depot, Inc.HD1.66%
Chevron CorporationCVX1.54%
Caterpillar Inc.CAT1.51%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose VYM if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose VYM if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose SGOV if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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