Dividend comparison

VYM vs CGDV: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF and Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VYM vs CGDV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.33% for CGDV. On $10,000 that is $29 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VYM pays more income, yielding 2.28% over the last twelve months versus 1.23% for CGDV. That is about $106 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 3 years, CGDV returned 94.7% versus 68.7% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,473 in CGDV and $16,866 in VYM.
  • Risk. CGDV has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 3 years was -21.9%, against -15.8% for VYM.
  • Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and CGDV holds 58.
  • Dividend growth. CGDV grew its yearly payout 7.0% a year over the last 2 years, versus 3.1% for VYM.
  • Size. VYM is the larger fund with $95.8 billion in assets, against $38.8 billion for CGDV.

Bottom line: VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns and faster dividend growth.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVYM
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
CGDV
Capital Group Dividend Value ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)2.28%1.23%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.68$0.60
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026$0.1522 on Oct 1, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Sep 30, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)3.1% over 4 yrs7.0% over 2 yrs
Price$161.15$49.17
Dividend growth streak15 years2 years
Beta0.750.90
Max drawdown (5Y)-15.8%-21.9%
Market cap$95.79B$38.84B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.33%
Assets under management$95.80B$38.84B
Number of holdings58958
Top 10 concentration26.2%—
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

VYM

$19.01/mo

$228 /yr at 2.28% yield

CGDV

$10.21/mo

$123 /yr at 1.23% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VYM pays quarterly; CGDV pays quarterly.
YearVYMCGDV
2025$3.5008$0.5649
2024$3.4945$0.5636
2023$3.4780$0.4932
2022$3.2518—
2021$3.0961—
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 VYM vs CGDV actually do

VYM
A broad index fund holding the higher-yielding side of the US dividend-paying market, several hundred companies deep.

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

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Feb 24, 2022 would now be worth $16,795 in VYM and $21,148 in CGDV.
PeriodVYMCGDV
1 month1.19%0.43%
3 months0.62%0.78%
Year to date12.28%12.67%
1 year14.10%16.68%
3 years68.66%94.73%
5 years67.01%—
  • VYM
  • CGDV
7515323120222023202420252026168211

Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-02-24 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.
  • VYM
  • CGDV
0%9%19%28%38%Technology17.5%37.8%Financial Services20.9%5.1%Industrials11.6%11.8%Healthcare14.1%7.9%Communication Services3.3%11.4%Consumer Cyclical6.0%8.1%Energy10.2%3.7%Consumer Defensive8.2%5.4%Basic Materials3.2%4.2%Utilities5.0%0.9%Other0.0%3.6%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

VYM589 holdings total

NameWeight
AVGOBroadcom Inc6.93%
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co3.75%
XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.84%
JNJJohnson & Johnson2.71%
ABBVAbbVie Inc1.96%
CSCOCisco Systems Inc1.80%
CVXChevron Corp1.61%
CATCaterpillar Inc1.56%
MRKMerck & Co Inc1.52%
BACBank of America Corp1.50%

Quick verdict

VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is VYM or CGDV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYM currently yields 2.28% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while CGDV yields 1.23%. 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 VYM and CGDV?
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) 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, VYM or CGDV?
VYM has the lower expense ratio. VYM charges 0.04% a year and CGDV charges 0.33%, a difference of $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VYM or CGDV?
Over the last 3 years, CGDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VYM returned 68.7% and CGDV returned 94.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VYM or CGDV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, CGDV has been riskier: VYM fell as much as 15.8% and CGDV as much as 21.9%. Their betas are 0.75 and 0.90.
How often do VYM and CGDV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.8869 for VYM and $0.1522 for CGDV.
How much income does $10,000 in VYM vs CGDV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VYM would generate roughly $19.01 per month ($228 annually). The same amount in CGDV would produce about $10.21 per month ($123 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VYM and CGDV?
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 VYM vs CGDV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VYM and CGDV 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.