SYI vs VLC: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
SYI comes out ahead on 8 of 9 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
SYI vs VLC side by side
| SYI leads on 8, VLC on 1 | SYIState Street SPDR MSCI Australia Select High Dividend Yield ETF | VLCVanguard MSCI Australian Large Companies Index ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | MSCI Australia Select High Dividend Yield Index | MSCI Australian Shares Large Cap Index |
| Fund manager | State Street (SPDR) | Vanguard |
| Asset class | Australian shares | Australian shares |
| Listed | Sep 2010 | May 2011 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| AUMfund size | $739m✓ | $310m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $7.9m✓ | −$1.8m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.06% | 0.05%✓ |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | +1.7%✓ | −1.6% |
| 1 year | +14.8%✓ | +7.1% |
| 3 years p.a. | +13.6%✓ | +11.7% |
| 5 years p.a. | +9.5%✓ | +7.9% |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $11,475✓ | $10,707 |
| 5 years ago | $15,710✓ | $14,615 |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
SYI vs VLC price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into SYI 5 years ago is worth $15,710 today, against $14,615 in VLC. That is $1,095 more in SYI.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
SYI and VLC charge the same fee, so fees make no difference between them.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
SYI and VLC overlap
5 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.
| Biggest shared holdings | % of SYI | % of VLC |
|---|---|---|
| 9.91% | 8.05% | |
| 8.95% | 7.91% | |
| 10.16% | 7.62% | |
| 13.04% | 5.82% | |
| 7.44% | 3.55% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Get the full SYI vs VLC report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, SYI or VLC?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers SYI wins on 8 measures and VLC on 1. SYI is the larger fund at $739m vs $310m. SYI has the better 1-year return: +14.8% vs +7.1%. SYI has the better 3-year return: +13.6% a year vs +11.7%.
Which is cheaper, SYI or VLC?
SYI charges 0.20% a year and VLC charges 0.20% a year.
Can I hold both SYI and VLC?
You can, but check how much they overlap. SYI is a Australian shares fund and VLC is a Australian shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.