Dividend comparison

VIG vs DGRW: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VIG vs DGRW: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VIG is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.28% for DGRW. On $10,000 that is $24 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VIG pays more income, yielding 1.50% over the last twelve months versus 1.19% for DGRW. That is about $31 more a year on $10,000. VIG pays quarterly, DGRW pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, DGRW returned 72.9% versus 61.4% for VIG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,290 in DGRW and $16,136 in VIG.
  • Risk. VIG has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -20.4%, against -17.3% for DGRW.
  • Diversification. VIG holds 338 positions and DGRW holds 304.
  • Dividend growth. VIG grew its yearly payout 7.5% a year over the last 4 years, versus 2.5% for DGRW.
  • Size. VIG is the larger fund with $127.7 billion in assets, against $17.1 billion for DGRW.

Bottom line: VIG fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and faster dividend growth. DGRW fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVIG
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF
DGRW
WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund
Dividend yield (TTM)1.50%1.19%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.65$1.19
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.9295 on Sep 30, 2026$0.1700 on Sep 29, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 28, 2026Sep 25, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.5% over 4 yrs2.5% over 4 yrs
Price$243.07$99.40
Dividend growth streak12 years1 year
Beta0.820.82
Max drawdown (5Y)-20.4%-17.3%
Market cap$127.69B$17.11B
ExchangeAMEXNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.04%0.28%
Assets under management$127.70B$17.08B
Number of holdings338304
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

DGRW

$9.96/mo

$119 /yr at 1.19% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VIG pays quarterly; DGRW pays monthly.
YearVIGDGRW
2025$3.5580$1.3165
2024$3.3791$1.2103
2023$3.2081$1.2250
2022$2.9725$1.3002
2021$2.6601$1.1906
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 DGRW 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 Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,136 in VIG and $17,290 in DGRW.
PeriodVIGDGRW
1 month2.56%1.50%
3 months2.30%3.68%
Year to date10.60%11.15%
1 year11.88%11.56%
3 years64.31%63.57%
5 years61.36%72.90%
  • VIG
  • DGRW
79130181202120222023202420252026161173

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
  • DGRW
0%9%18%26%35%Technology27.4%35.2%Healthcare18.7%12.9%Financial Services20.7%8.4%Industrials10.8%10.3%Consumer Defensive9.1%6.6%Communication Services0.5%11.8%Consumer Cyclical3.9%6.7%Energy3.6%5.1%Basic Materials3.2%2.9%Utilities2.7%0.2%Other0.0%0.7%
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 faster dividend growth. DGRW fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is VIG or DGRW better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VIG currently yields 1.50% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DGRW yields 1.19%. 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 DGRW?
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRW) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VIG or DGRW?
VIG has the lower expense ratio. VIG charges 0.04% a year and DGRW charges 0.28%, a difference of $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VIG or DGRW?
Over the last 5 years, DGRW has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VIG returned 61.4% and DGRW returned 72.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VIG or DGRW?
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 DGRW as much as 17.3%. Their betas are 0.82 and 0.82.
How often do VIG and DGRW pay dividends?
VIG pays quarterly and DGRW pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in VIG vs DGRW generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $12.50 per month ($150 annually). The same amount in DGRW would produce about $9.96 per month ($119 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VIG and DGRW?
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 DGRW with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VIG and DGRW 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.