Dividend comparison

VIG vs CGDV: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VIG vs CGDV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VIG is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.33% for CGDV. On $10,000 that is $29 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VIG pays more income, yielding 1.50% over the last twelve months versus 1.23% for CGDV. That is about $27 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 3 years, CGDV returned 94.7% versus 64.3% for VIG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,473 in CGDV and $16,431 in VIG.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 3 years were similar: -20.4% for VIG and -21.9% for CGDV from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VIG holds 338 positions and CGDV holds 58.
  • Dividend growth. VIG grew its yearly payout 7.5% a year over the last 2 years, versus 7.0% for CGDV.
  • Size. VIG is the larger fund with $127.7 billion in assets, against $38.8 billion for CGDV.

Bottom line: VIG fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVIG
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF
CGDV
Capital Group Dividend Value ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.50%1.23%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.65$0.60
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.9295 on Sep 30, 2026$0.1522 on Oct 1, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 28, 2026Sep 30, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.5% over 4 yrs7.0% over 2 yrs
Price$243.07$49.17
Dividend growth streak12 years2 years
Beta0.820.90
Max drawdown (5Y)-20.4%-21.9%
Market cap$127.69B$38.84B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.33%
Assets under management$127.70B$38.84B
Number of holdings33858
Top 10 concentration34.9%—
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

VIG

$12.50/mo

$150 /yr at 1.50% yield

CGDV

$10.21/mo

$123 /yr at 1.23% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VIG pays quarterly; CGDV pays quarterly.
YearVIGCGDV
2025$3.5580$0.5649
2024$3.3791$0.5636
2023$3.2081$0.4932
2022$2.9725—
2021$2.6601—
Strategy: Dividend equity
Rules-based equity funds that screen for companies paying sustainable or rising dividends, aiming at income plus long-term share-price participation. The screen is what defines the fund: yield-ranked indexes deliver more cash now, dividend-growth indexes deliberately exclude the highest payers in favor of durability. Both approaches produce a sector mix that looks nothing like the broad market, typically heavier in financials, healthcare, staples and industrials.

Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.

What VIG vs CGDV actually do

VIG
A fund holding US companies with at least ten consecutive years of dividend increases, deliberately excluding the highest yielders.

It tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which requires a decade of unbroken annual increases and then removes the top 25% of eligible names by yield. Screening out the highest payers is intentional: an unusually high yield often signals a stretched payout or a falling share price, and the index is built for durability rather than for current income. The result is a lower starting yield than most dividend funds and a portfolio that leans toward large, stable, profitable companies.

Suits a long-horizon investor who cares more about the dividend rising every year than about the size of the first payment. Not appropriate if you need meaningful cash flow from the position today.

Dividend growth, quality tilt

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Feb 24, 2022 would now be worth $16,830 in VIG and $21,148 in CGDV.
PeriodVIGCGDV
1 month2.56%0.43%
3 months2.30%0.78%
Year to date10.60%12.67%
1 year11.88%16.68%
3 years64.31%94.73%
5 years61.36%—
  • VIG
  • CGDV
7515323120222023202420252026168211

Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-02-24 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • VIG
  • CGDV
0%9%19%28%38%Technology27.4%37.8%Healthcare18.7%7.9%Financial Services20.7%5.1%Industrials10.8%11.8%Consumer Defensive9.1%5.4%Consumer Cyclical3.9%8.1%Communication Services0.5%11.4%Basic Materials3.2%4.2%Energy3.6%3.7%Utilities2.7%0.9%Other0.0%3.6%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

VIG338 holdings total

NameWeight
MSFTMicrosoft Corp4.90%
AAPLApple Inc4.89%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.30%
LLYEli Lilly & Co4.10%
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co3.89%
XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.96%
JNJJohnson & Johnson2.83%
VVisa Inc2.53%
7DZ.DEExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.46%
WMTWalmart Inc2.05%

Quick verdict

VIG fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is VIG or CGDV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VIG currently yields 1.50% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while CGDV yields 1.23%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between VIG and CGDV?
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VIG or CGDV?
VIG has the lower expense ratio. VIG charges 0.04% a year and CGDV charges 0.33%, a difference of $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VIG or CGDV?
Over the last 3 years, CGDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VIG returned 64.3% and CGDV returned 94.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VIG or CGDV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, CGDV has been riskier: VIG fell as much as 20.4% and CGDV as much as 21.9%. Their betas are 0.82 and 0.90.
How often do VIG and CGDV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9295 for VIG and $0.1522 for CGDV.
How much income does $10,000 in VIG vs CGDV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $12.50 per month ($150 annually). The same amount in CGDV would produce about $10.21 per month ($123 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VIG and CGDV?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare VIG vs CGDV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VIG and CGDV fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.