Dividend comparison

VIG vs DGRO: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VIG vs DGRO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VIG is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.08% for DGRO. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
  • Income. DGRO pays more income, yielding 1.88% over the last twelve months versus 1.50% for VIG. That is about $38 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, DGRO returned 64.5% versus 61.4% for VIG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,454 in DGRO and $16,136 in VIG.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -20.4% for VIG and -19.3% for DGRO from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. DGRO holds 391 positions and VIG holds 338.
  • Dividend growth. DGRO grew its yearly payout 7.9% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.5% for VIG.
  • Size. VIG is the larger fund with $127.7 billion in assets, against $44.2 billion for DGRO.

Bottom line: VIG fits better if you care most about lower fees. DGRO fits better if you care most about more income today and stronger 5-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
DGRO
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.50%1.88%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.65$1.49
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.9295 on Sep 30, 2026$0.3850 on Sep 18, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 28, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.5% over 4 yrs7.9% over 4 yrs
Price$243.07$79.26
Dividend growth streak12 years10 years
Beta0.820.67
Max drawdown (5Y)-20.4%-19.3%
Market cap$127.69B$43.96B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.08%
Assets under management$127.70B$44.19B
Number of holdings338391
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

DGRO

$15.71/mo

$188 /yr at 1.88% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VIG pays quarterly; DGRO pays quarterly.
YearVIGDGRO
2025$3.5580$1.4506
2024$3.3791$1.3851
2023$3.2081$1.3159
2022$2.9725$1.1679
2021$2.6601$1.0718
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 DGRO 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

DGRO
An iShares fund holding a wide set of US companies with a record of raising their dividends.

It tracks the Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, which requires at least five consecutive years of dividend growth, a payout ratio under 75%, a positive earnings forecast, no REITs, and excludes the top 10% of the universe by yield. The five-year requirement is looser than VIG's ten, so the portfolio is broader, running to several hundred names. Holdings are weighted by the total dollar value of dividends paid rather than by market cap, which tilts weight toward the largest actual dividend payers rather than the largest companies.

Suits an investor who wants dividend growth with more names and a slightly higher starting yield than a stricter growth screen delivers. Less suitable for someone who wants concentrated exposure to only the longest-running dividend raisers.

Dividend growth, broad

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,136 in VIG and $16,454 in DGRO.
PeriodVIGDGRO
1 month2.56%3.08%
3 months2.30%2.75%
Year to date10.60%14.17%
1 year11.88%15.72%
3 years64.31%70.71%
5 years61.36%64.54%
  • VIG
  • DGRO
80126173202120222023202420252026161165

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 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
  • DGRO
0%7%14%21%27%Technology27.4%19.5%Financial Services20.7%19.7%Healthcare18.7%17.2%Industrials10.8%11.2%Consumer Defensive9.1%12.2%Financials19.2%Information Technology17.8%Health Care17.4%Consumer Staples12.8%Consumer Cyclical3.9%5.9%Other10.0%24.1%
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. DGRO fits better if you care most about more income today and stronger 5-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how VIG vs DGRO fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
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Frequently asked questions

Is VIG or DGRO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VIG currently yields 1.50% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DGRO yields 1.88%. 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 DGRO?
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) 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 DGRO?
VIG has the lower expense ratio. VIG charges 0.04% a year and DGRO charges 0.08%, a difference of $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VIG or DGRO?
Over the last 5 years, DGRO has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VIG returned 61.4% and DGRO returned 64.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VIG or DGRO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VIG has been riskier: VIG fell as much as 20.4% and DGRO as much as 19.3%. Their betas are 0.82 and 0.67.
How often do VIG and DGRO pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9295 for VIG and $0.3850 for DGRO.
How much income does $10,000 in VIG vs DGRO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $12.50 per month ($150 annually). The same amount in DGRO would produce about $15.71 per month ($188 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VIG and DGRO?
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 DGRO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VIG and DGRO 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.