Dividend comparison

VYM vs DLN: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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VYM vs DLN: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.28% for DLN. On $10,000 that is $24 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VYM pays more income, yielding 2.28% over the last twelve months versus 1.73% for DLN. That is about $55 more a year on $10,000. VYM pays quarterly, DLN pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, DLN returned 77.7% versus 67.0% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,769 in DLN and $16,701 in VYM.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -15.8% for VYM and -16.3% for DLN from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and DLN holds 305.
  • Dividend growth. DLN grew its yearly payout 5.6% a year over the last 4 years, versus 3.1% for VYM.
  • Size. VYM is the larger fund with $95.8 billion in assets, against $6.3 billion for DLN.

Bottom line: VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and broader diversification. DLN fits better if you care most about stronger 5-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
DLN
WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund
Dividend yield (TTM)2.28%1.73%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.68$1.74
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026$0.1950 on Sep 29, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Sep 25, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)3.1% over 4 yrs5.6% over 4 yrs
Price$161.15$100.11
Dividend growth streak15 years—
Beta0.750.75
Max drawdown (5Y)-15.8%-16.3%
Market cap$95.79B$6.31B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.28%
Assets under management$95.80B$6.29B
Number of holdings589305
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

DLN

$14.44/mo

$173 /yr at 1.73% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VYM pays quarterly; DLN pays monthly.
YearVYMDLN
2025$3.5008$1.6805
2024$3.4945$1.5534
2023$3.4780$1.6150
2022$3.2518$1.5650
2021$3.0961$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 VYM vs DLN 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 Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,701 in VYM and $17,769 in DLN.
PeriodVYMDLN
1 month1.19%1.54%
3 months0.62%3.27%
Year to date12.28%15.16%
1 year14.10%16.87%
3 years68.66%74.65%
5 years67.01%77.69%
  • VYM
  • DLN
85136187202120222023202420252026167178

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.
  • VYM
  • DLN
0%6%11%17%23%Technology17.5%22.5%Financial Services20.9%17.1%Healthcare14.1%14.0%Industrials11.6%7.3%Energy10.2%8.2%Consumer Defensive8.2%8.8%Communication Services3.3%8.3%Consumer Cyclical6.0%4.2%Utilities5.0%4.9%Basic Materials3.2%1.0%Other0.0%3.7%
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 and broader diversification. DLN fits better if you care most about stronger 5-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 DLN better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYM currently yields 2.28% 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 VYM and DLN?
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) 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, VYM or DLN?
VYM has the lower expense ratio. VYM 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, VYM or DLN?
Over the last 5 years, DLN has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VYM returned 67.0% and DLN returned 77.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VYM or DLN?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, DLN has been riskier: VYM fell as much as 15.8% and DLN as much as 16.3%. Their betas are 0.75 and 0.75.
How often do VYM and DLN pay dividends?
VYM pays quarterly and DLN pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in VYM vs DLN generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VYM would generate roughly $19.01 per month ($228 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 VYM 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 VYM vs DLN with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VYM 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.