Dividend comparison
VOO vs VYM: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VOO is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.04% for VYM. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. VYM pays more income, yielding 2.28% over the last twelve months versus 1.05% for VOO. That is about $123 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VOO returned 81.8% versus 67.0% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,178 in VOO and $16,701 in VYM.
- Risk. VOO has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -24.5%, against -15.8% for VYM.
- Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and VOO holds 505. The ten largest positions make up 39.1% of VOO and 26.2% of VYM.
- Overlap. At least 21% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 49 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. VOO grew its yearly payout 6.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 3.1% for VYM.
- Size. VOO is the larger fund with $1.7 trillion in assets, against $95.8 billion for VYM.
Bottom line: VOO fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VYM fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns.
| Metric | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 2.28% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.43 | $3.68 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $1.8226 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 3.1% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $706.80 | $161.15 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 15 years |
| Beta | 1.01 | 0.75 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -15.8% |
| Market cap | $1.70T | $95.79B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Assets under management | $1.70T | $95.80B |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 589 |
| Top 10 concentration | 39.1% | 26.2% |
VOO
$8.76/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
VYM
$19.01/mo
$228 /yr at 2.28% yield
| Year | VOO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.0678 | $3.5008 |
| 2024 | $6.7035 | $3.4945 |
| 2023 | $6.3572 | $3.4780 |
| 2022 | $5.9467 | $3.2518 |
| 2021 | $5.4367 | $3.0961 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What VOO vs VYM actually do
It replicates the index in full and makes no attempt to pick winners, so its return is the index return less a very small fee. As an open-end fund it can lend securities and put incoming dividends back to work inside the portfolio between the quarterly payment dates. Dividends are whatever the underlying companies happen to pay, which means yield is an output of the strategy and never a target of it.
Suits almost any long-horizon US equity allocation, including as the growth engine sitting behind higher-yielding income positions. Not a fit for someone whose portfolio needs to produce meaningful current cash flow.
Core holding
It tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which ranks US dividend payers by forecast yield, excludes REITs, and works down that ranking until roughly half the market value of the eligible universe is covered. Selection is on yield alone with no quality or growth screen, so the portfolio is wide and diversified but includes some payers a stricter screen would reject. Weighting is by market cap, meaning the biggest dividend-paying companies dominate.
Suits an investor who wants dependable above-market income with maximum breadth and minimum concentration risk. Less suitable if you specifically want dividend growth or a fundamental quality filter, since neither is part of the selection rule.
Core dividend holding
| Period | VOO | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.97% | 1.19% |
| 3 months | 3.87% | 0.62% |
| Year to date | 13.68% | 12.28% |
| 1 year | 15.84% | 14.10% |
| 3 years | 89.23% | 68.66% |
| 5 years | 81.78% | 67.01% |
- VOO
- VYM
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VOO
- VYM
| Largest shared holdings | VOO weight | VYM weight |
|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.54% | 6.93% |
| JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co | 1.33% | 3.75% |
| XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp | 1.02% | 2.84% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.97% | 2.71% |
| ABBVAbbVie Inc | 0.70% | 1.96% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc | 0.64% | 1.80% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.61% | 1.61% |
| CATCaterpillar Inc | 0.57% | 1.56% |
| MRKMerck & Co Inc | 0.54% | 1.52% |
| BACBank of America Corp | 0.54% | 1.50% |
VOO505 holdings total
Quick verdict
VOO fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VYM fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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How much do VOO and VYM overlap?
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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.