Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: Both VIG and VYM fall intoTier 2: Yield Plus. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | VIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.08% | 13.38% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 10.50% | 10.85% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.01% | -23.21% |
| Beta | - | 0.82 |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
VIG (Vanguard Div Appreciation) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by Vanguard. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $120.0B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
VYM (Vanguard High Div Yield) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by Vanguard. It tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield index across approximately 530 positions. With $84.5B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since Nov 2006.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
In the head-to-head battle of VIG vs VYM, the choice depends on your specific goal. VYM wins for Immediate Income with a 2.53% yield. However, VYM is the better choice for Long-Term Growth due to superior total return performance.
Which fund is safer for retirement income? We analyze the yield sustainability and structural risk.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
VIG
Annual Yield: 1.58%
$132/mo
($1,578/year)
Frequency: quarterly
VYM
Annual Yield: 2.53%
$211/mo
($2,526/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: VYM generates $948/year more than VIG on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $18,952 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Higher income doesn't always mean better investment. Review the "Yield Trap" and "Total Return" sections above—you want income that's sustainable, not just headline-grabbing.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. VYM has delivered a superior Total Return of 13.38% over the past year.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.