Dividend comparison

VIG vs DLN: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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VIG vs DLN: 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 DLN. On $10,000 that is $24 a year less in fees.
  • Income. DLN pays more income, yielding 1.73% over the last twelve months versus 1.50% for VIG. That is about $23 more a year on $10,000. VIG pays quarterly, DLN pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, DLN returned 77.7% versus 61.4% for VIG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,769 in DLN 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 -16.3% for DLN.
  • Diversification. VIG holds 338 positions and DLN holds 305.
  • Dividend growth. VIG grew its yearly payout 7.5% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.6% for DLN.
  • Size. VIG is the larger fund with $127.7 billion in assets, against $6.3 billion for DLN.

Bottom line: VIG fits better if you care most about lower fees and faster dividend growth. DLN 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
DLN
WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund
Dividend yield (TTM)1.50%1.73%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.65$1.74
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.9295 on Sep 30, 2026$0.1950 on Sep 29, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 28, 2026Sep 25, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.5% over 4 yrs5.6% over 4 yrs
Price$243.07$100.11
Dividend growth streak12 years—
Beta0.820.75
Max drawdown (5Y)-20.4%-16.3%
Market cap$127.69B$6.31B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.28%
Assets under management$127.70B$6.29B
Number of holdings338305
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

DLN

$14.44/mo

$173 /yr at 1.73% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VIG pays quarterly; DLN pays monthly.
YearVIGDLN
2025$3.5580$1.6805
2024$3.3791$1.5534
2023$3.2081$1.6150
2022$2.9725$1.5650
2021$2.6601$1.3531
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 DLN 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 $17,769 in DLN.
PeriodVIGDLN
1 month2.56%1.54%
3 months2.30%3.27%
Year to date10.60%15.16%
1 year11.88%16.87%
3 years64.31%74.65%
5 years61.36%77.69%
  • VIG
  • DLN
78133187202120222023202420252026161178

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
  • DLN
0%7%14%21%27%Technology27.4%22.5%Financial Services20.7%17.1%Healthcare18.7%14.0%Industrials10.8%7.3%Consumer Defensive9.1%8.8%Energy3.6%8.2%Communication Services0.5%8.3%Consumer Cyclical3.9%4.2%Utilities2.7%4.9%Basic Materials3.2%1.0%Other0.0%3.7%
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 and faster dividend growth. DLN 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 DLN better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VIG currently yields 1.50% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DLN yields 1.73%. 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 DLN?
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund (DLN) 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 DLN?
VIG has the lower expense ratio. VIG charges 0.04% a year and DLN charges 0.28%, a difference of $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VIG or DLN?
Over the last 5 years, DLN has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VIG returned 61.4% and DLN returned 77.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VIG or DLN?
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 DLN as much as 16.3%. Their betas are 0.82 and 0.75.
How often do VIG and DLN pay dividends?
VIG pays quarterly and DLN pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in VIG vs DLN generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $12.50 per month ($150 annually). The same amount in DLN would produce about $14.44 per month ($173 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VIG and DLN?
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 DLN with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VIG and DLN 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.