Dividend comparison

VYM vs HDV: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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VYM vs HDV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.08% for HDV. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
  • Income. HDV pays more income, yielding 2.83% over the last twelve months versus 2.28% for VYM. That is about $55 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, HDV returned 82.2% versus 67.0% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,215 in HDV and $16,701 in VYM.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -15.8% for VYM and -15.4% for HDV from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and HDV holds 74. The ten largest positions make up 26.2% of VYM and 57.4% of HDV.
  • Overlap. At least 25% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 31 shared holdings.
  • Dividend growth. VYM grew its yearly payout 3.1% a year over the last 4 years, versus 2.8% for HDV.
  • Size. VYM is the larger fund with $95.8 billion in assets, against $15.5 billion for HDV.

Bottom line: VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification. HDV fits better if you care most about more income today and stronger 5-year returns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVYM
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
HDV
iShares Core High Dividend ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)2.28%2.83%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.68$0.85
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026$0.0560 on Sep 21, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)3.1% over 4 yrs2.8% over 4 yrs
Price$161.15$30.11
Dividend growth streak15 years—
Beta0.750.30
Max drawdown (5Y)-15.8%-15.4%
Market cap$95.79B$15.63B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.04%0.08%
Assets under management$95.80B$15.52B
Number of holdings58974
Top 10 concentration26.2%57.4%
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

HDV

$23.58/mo

$283 /yr at 2.83% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VYM pays quarterly; HDV pays quarterly.
YearVYMHDV
2025$3.5008$0.7821
2024$3.4945$0.8230
2023$3.4780$0.7787
2022$3.2518$0.7431
2021$3.0961$0.7016
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 HDV 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 $18,215 in HDV.
PeriodVYMHDV
1 month1.19%4.77%
3 months0.62%7.46%
Year to date12.28%26.57%
1 year14.10%26.83%
3 years68.66%70.79%
5 years67.01%82.15%
  • VYM
  • HDV
85137189202120222023202420252026167182

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
  • HDV
0%7%14%21%28%Healthcare14.1%25.1%Energy10.2%24.8%Consumer Defensive8.2%23.1%Consumer Staples27.0%Financial Services20.9%4.7%Technology17.5%1.1%Utilities5.0%10.9%Consumer Cyclical6.0%8.3%Industrials11.6%2.6%Health Care13.6%Other6.5%28.0%
VYM vs HDV holdings overlap
At least 25% overlap by weight, with 31 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 weightHDV weight
XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.84%9.54%
ABBVAbbVie Inc1.96%6.79%
CVXChevron Corp1.61%7.21%
MRKMerck & Co Inc1.52%4.45%
PGProcter & Gamble Co/The1.44%5.49%
KOCoca-Cola Co/The1.42%4.43%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc1.26%5.08%
HDHome Depot Inc/The1.20%4.52%
AMGNAmgen Inc0.89%2.67%
VZVerizon Communications Inc0.81%5.22%
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%

HDV74 holdings total

NameWeight
XOMEXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP9.54%
CVXCHEVRON7.21%
ABBVABBVIE6.79%
PGPROCTER & GAMBLE5.49%
VZVERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC5.22%
PMPHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL5.08%
PFEPFIZER4.72%
HDHOME DEPOT4.52%
MRKMERCK & CO INC4.45%
KOCOCA-COLA4.43%

Quick verdict

VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification. HDV fits better if you care most about more income today and stronger 5-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions

Is VYM or HDV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYM currently yields 2.28% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while HDV yields 2.83%. 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 HDV?
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) 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 HDV?
VYM has the lower expense ratio. VYM charges 0.04% a year and HDV charges 0.08%, a difference of $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VYM or HDV?
Over the last 5 years, HDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VYM returned 67.0% and HDV returned 82.2%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VYM or HDV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VYM has been riskier: VYM fell as much as 15.8% and HDV as much as 15.4%. Their betas are 0.75 and 0.30.
How much do VYM and HDV overlap?
At least 25% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 31 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are XOM, ABBV, CVX. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do VYM and HDV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.8869 for VYM and $0.0560 for HDV.
How much income does $10,000 in VYM vs HDV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VYM would generate roughly $19.01 per month ($228 annually). The same amount in HDV would produce about $23.58 per month ($283 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VYM and HDV?
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 HDV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VYM and HDV 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.