Dividend comparison

VYM vs FDVV: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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VYM vs FDVV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.15% for FDVV. On $10,000 that is $11 a year less in fees.
  • Income. FDVV pays more income, yielding 2.77% over the last twelve months versus 2.28% for VYM. That is about $49 more a year on $10,000. VYM pays quarterly, FDVV pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, FDVV returned 80.6% versus 67.0% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,061 in FDVV and $16,701 in VYM.
  • Risk. FDVV has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -20.2%, against -15.8% for VYM.
  • Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and FDVV holds 119. The ten largest positions make up 26.2% of VYM and 36.5% of FDVV.
  • Overlap. At least 28% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 43 shared holdings.
  • Dividend growth. FDVV grew its yearly payout 10.7% 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 $10.2 billion for FDVV.

Bottom line: VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. FDVV fits better if you care most about more income today, 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
FDVV
Fidelity High Dividend ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)2.28%2.77%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.68$1.71
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026$0.3620 on Sep 22, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)3.1% over 4 yrs10.7% over 4 yrs
Price$161.15$61.84
Dividend growth streak15 years1 year
Beta0.750.78
Max drawdown (5Y)-15.8%-20.2%
Market cap$95.79B$10.17B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.15%
Assets under management$95.80B$10.17B
Number of holdings589119
Top 10 concentration26.2%36.5%
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

FDVV

$23.10/mo

$277 /yr at 2.77% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VYM pays quarterly; FDVV pays monthly.
YearVYMFDVV
2025$3.5008$1.6360
2024$3.4945$1.4700
2023$3.4780$1.5920
2022$3.2518$1.2830
2021$3.0961$1.0880
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 FDVV 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 $18,061 in FDVV.
PeriodVYMFDVV
1 month1.19%-0.32%
3 months0.62%-0.51%
Year to date12.28%9.08%
1 year14.10%10.45%
3 years68.66%73.46%
5 years67.01%80.61%
  • VYM
  • FDVV
81138195202120222023202420252026167181

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
  • FDVV
0%8%16%24%32%Technology17.5%31.7%Financial Services20.9%18.4%Information Technology31.2%Financials19.4%Consumer Defensive8.2%10.9%Consumer Cyclical6.0%11.8%Healthcare14.1%3.5%Industrials11.6%3.6%Utilities5.0%7.9%Consumer Discretionary11.7%Other16.7%25.9%
VYM vs FDVV holdings overlap
At least 28% overlap by weight, with 43 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 holdingsVYM weightFDVV weight
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co3.75%2.74%
AVGOBroadcom Inc6.93%2.70%
BACBank of America Corp1.50%1.67%
PGProcter & Gamble Co/The1.44%1.91%
KOCoca-Cola Co/The1.42%2.16%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc1.26%1.99%
HDHome Depot Inc/The1.20%1.53%
TXNTexas Instruments Inc1.08%1.27%
GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The1.03%1.60%
WFCWells Fargo & Co1.03%1.52%
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%

FDVV119 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA CORP7.21%
AAPLAPPLE INC7.06%
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP5.72%
DELLDELL TECHNOLOGIES INC CL C3.05%
JPMJPMORGAN CHASE & CO2.74%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.70%
KOCOCA COLA CO2.16%
PMPHILIP MORRIS INTL INC1.99%
GOOGLALPHABET INC CL A1.92%
PGPROCTER & GAMBLE CO1.91%

Quick verdict

VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. FDVV fits better if you care most about more income today, 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 FDVV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYM currently yields 2.28% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while FDVV yields 2.77%. 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 FDVV?
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) 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 FDVV?
VYM has the lower expense ratio. VYM charges 0.04% a year and FDVV charges 0.15%, a difference of $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VYM or FDVV?
Over the last 5 years, FDVV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VYM returned 67.0% and FDVV returned 80.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VYM or FDVV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, FDVV has been riskier: VYM fell as much as 15.8% and FDVV as much as 20.2%. Their betas are 0.75 and 0.78.
How much do VYM and FDVV overlap?
At least 28% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 43 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are JPM, AVGO, BAC. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do VYM and FDVV pay dividends?
VYM pays quarterly and FDVV pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in VYM vs FDVV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VYM would generate roughly $19.01 per month ($228 annually). The same amount in FDVV would produce about $23.10 per month ($277 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VYM and FDVV?
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 FDVV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VYM and FDVV 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.