Steady Compounders
Equity ETFs that produced return per unit of risk rather than raw return — favors shallow drawdowns, low volatility, and low cost.
| Rank | Fund | 3M | 1Y | Vol | Max DD | vs 200d | ER | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ||||||||
| #2 | ||||||||
| #3 | VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 6.7% | 23.7% | 10.2% | -6.7% | 9.1% | 0.06% | 0.958 |
| #4 | VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | 7.2% | 18.8% | 10.0% | -7.9% | 8.4% | 0.05% | 0.674 |
| #5 | RSP Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 10.6% | 21.5% | 11.7% | -7.9% | 10.7% | 0.2% | 0.530 |
| #6 | XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR | 19.8% | 31.5% | 15.8% | -10.5% | 14.9% | 0.09% | 0.469 |
| #7 | IJR iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 11.4% | 30.8% | 16.9% | -8.7% | 12.3% | 0.06% | 0.460 |
| #8 | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 5.1% | 21.0% | 12.8% | -8.9% | 9.2% | 0.03% | 0.457 |
| #9 | IVV iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 5.1% | 21.0% | 12.9% | -8.9% | 9.3% | 0.03% | 0.452 |
| #10 | VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 5.8% | 21.4% | 13.1% | -8.9% | 9.5% | 0.03% | 0.450 |
What the screen did this week
The Steady Compounders screen ranked 41 eligible funds as of 2026-08-19. Equity ETFs that produced return per unit of risk rather than raw return — favors shallow drawdowns, low volatility, and low cost.
The composite is a weighted blend of cross-sectional z-scores: return-to-risk (1y return ÷ 1y vol) (35%, higher better); 1-year max drawdown (25%, higher better); 1-year volatility (20%, lower better); 1-year return (10%, higher better); expense ratio (10%, lower better). Every fund is scored against the others in its universe on the same date, so a score is a statement about relative standing that week — not a forecast.
The visible ranking
#3 VYM — Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF. 3-month 6.7%, 1-year 23.7%, volatility 10.2%, worst drawdown -6.7%, expense ratio 0.06%. Composite 0.958.
#4 VIG — Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. 3-month 7.2%, 1-year 18.8%, volatility 10.0%, worst drawdown -7.9%, expense ratio 0.05%. Composite 0.674.
#5 RSP — Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF. 3-month 10.6%, 1-year 21.5%, volatility 11.7%, worst drawdown -7.9%, expense ratio 0.2%. Composite 0.530.
#6 XLV — Health Care Select Sector SPDR. 3-month 19.8%, 1-year 31.5%, volatility 15.8%, worst drawdown -10.5%, expense ratio 0.09%. Composite 0.469.
#7 IJR — iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF. 3-month 11.4%, 1-year 30.8%, volatility 16.9%, worst drawdown -8.7%, expense ratio 0.06%. Composite 0.460.
#8 VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. 3-month 5.1%, 1-year 21.0%, volatility 12.8%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.457.
#9 IVV — iShares Core S&P 500 ETF. 3-month 5.1%, 1-year 21.0%, volatility 12.9%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.452.
#10 VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. 3-month 5.8%, 1-year 21.4%, volatility 13.1%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.450.
What changed since last week
This is the first published run of this screen, so there is nothing to compare against yet. Movement commentary starts next week.
What moved the numbers
At rank 3, VYM scored 0.958. Its largest single contribution came from return-to-risk (1y return ÷ 1y vol), and its biggest drag from 1-year return. At the other end, FXI finished last of 41 with a composite of -1.927.
Every fund in the universe cleared the gates this week.
How to read this
This is a rules-based screen published on a fixed schedule. It is the same for every reader, it is not tailored to anyone’s circumstances, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell. Rankings are computed from price history alone. Past performance does not predict future results.
Pro unlocks the top two on every screen, the full factor breakdown behind each score, and the Goal Seek screener.