Dividend comparison
VIGI vs IGRO: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF and iShares International Dividend Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
VIGI vs IGRO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. VIGI is cheaper at 0.07% a year versus 0.15% for IGRO. On $10,000 that is $8 a year less in fees.
- Income. IGRO pays more income, yielding 2.64% over the last twelve months versus 2.14% for VIGI. That is about $50 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, IGRO returned 49.5% versus 23.8% for VIGI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $14,951 in IGRO and $12,384 in VIGI.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -27.7% for VIGI and -26.0% for IGRO from peak to trough.
- Diversification. IGRO holds 546 positions and VIGI holds 354. The ten largest positions make up 35.8% of VIGI and 26.8% of IGRO.
- Overlap. At least 39% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 44 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. IGRO grew its yearly payout 7.7% a year over the last 4 years, versus -24.4% for VIGI.
- Size. VIGI is the larger fund with $9.2 billion in assets, against $1.3 billion for IGRO.
Bottom line: VIGI fits better if you care most about lower fees. IGRO fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | VIGI Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF | IGRO iShares International Dividend Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.14% | 2.64% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.09 | $2.41 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.4579 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.4251 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | -24.4% over 4 yrs | 7.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $97.40 | $91.38 |
| Dividend growth streak | 2 years | — |
| Beta | 0.69 | 0.74 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -27.7% | -26.0% |
| Market cap | $9.20B | $1.29B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | CBOE |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.15% |
| Assets under management | $9.20B | $1.28B |
| Number of holdings | 354 | 546 |
| Top 10 concentration | 35.8% | 26.8% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
VIGI
$17.87/mo
$214 /yr at 2.14% yield
IGRO
$22.01/mo
$264 /yr at 2.64% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VIGI pays quarterly; IGRO pays quarterly.
| Year | VIGI | IGRO |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.9597 | $2.0760 |
| 2024 | $1.5436 | $1.6568 |
| 2023 | $1.5263 | $1.8362 |
| 2022 | $1.4342 | $1.5179 |
| 2021 | $5.9933 | $1.5410 |
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.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $12,384 in VIGI and $14,951 in IGRO.
| Period | VIGI | IGRO |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.42% | 1.12% |
| 3 months | 2.41% | 1.53% |
| Year to date | 6.51% | 10.40% |
| 1 year | 6.55% | 12.79% |
| 3 years | 45.05% | 67.06% |
| 5 years | 23.84% | 49.51% |
- VIGI
- IGRO
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.
- VIGI
- IGRO
VIGI vs IGRO holdings overlap
At least 39% overlap by weight, with 44 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | VIGI weight | IGRO weight |
|---|---|---|
| NESN.SWNestle SA | 3.43% | 3.13% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 3.38% | 3.07% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 3.27% | 2.95% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 4.59% | 2.73% |
| TD.TOToronto-Dominion Bank/The | 3.45% | 2.25% |
| IBE.MCIberdrola SA | 2.50% | 2.22% |
| NOVO-B.CONovo Nordisk A/S | 2.15% | 2.12% |
| 8306.TMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 4.93% | 1.98% |
| SAP.DESAP SE | 3.80% | 1.31% |
| 8316.TSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc | 3.01% | 1.22% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
VIGI354 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 8306.TMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 4.93% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 4.59% |
| SAP.DESAP SE | 3.80% |
| TD.TOToronto-Dominion Bank/The | 3.45% |
| NESN.SWNestle SA | 3.43% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 3.38% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 3.27% |
| SU.PASchneider Electric SE | 3.18% |
| 8316.TSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc | 3.01% |
| 6501.THitachi Ltd | 2.80% |
IGRO546 holdings total
Quick verdict
VIGI fits better if you care most about lower fees. IGRO fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how VIGI vs IGRO fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is VIGI or IGRO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VIGI currently yields 2.14% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while IGRO yields 2.64%. 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 VIGI and IGRO?
Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VIGI or IGRO?
VIGI has the lower expense ratio. VIGI charges 0.07% a year and IGRO charges 0.15%, a difference of $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VIGI or IGRO?
Over the last 5 years, IGRO has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VIGI returned 23.8% and IGRO returned 49.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VIGI or IGRO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VIGI has been riskier: VIGI fell as much as 27.7% and IGRO as much as 26.0%. Their betas are 0.69 and 0.74.
How much do VIGI and IGRO overlap?
At least 39% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 44 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NESN.SW, ROP.SW, NOVN.SW. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do VIGI and IGRO pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.4579 for VIGI and $0.4251 for IGRO.
How much income does $10,000 in VIGI vs IGRO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VIGI would generate roughly $17.87 per month ($214 annually). The same amount in IGRO would produce about $22.01 per month ($264 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VIGI and IGRO?
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 VIGI vs IGRO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VIGI and IGRO 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.