Dividend comparison
VYM vs RDVY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF and First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.47% for RDVY. On $10,000 that is $43 a year less in fees.
- Income. VYM pays more income, yielding 2.28% over the last twelve months versus 0.85% for RDVY. That is about $143 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, RDVY returned 69.8% versus 67.0% for VYM, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,979 in RDVY and $16,701 in VYM.
- Risk. RDVY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -25.3%, against -15.8% for VYM.
- Diversification. VYM holds 589 positions and RDVY holds 72. The ten largest positions make up 26.2% of VYM and 22.2% of RDVY.
- Overlap. At least 11% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 18 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. RDVY grew its yearly payout 9.4% 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 $25.4 billion for RDVY.
Bottom line: VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. RDVY fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.
| Metric | VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | RDVY First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.28% | 0.85% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.68 | $0.68 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.8869 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.1521 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 3.1% over 4 yrs | 9.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $161.15 | $79.63 |
| Dividend growth streak | 15 years | — |
| Beta | 0.75 | 0.94 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -15.8% | -25.3% |
| Market cap | $95.79B | $25.45B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.47% |
| Assets under management | $95.80B | $25.45B |
| Number of holdings | 589 | 72 |
| Top 10 concentration | 26.2% | 22.2% |
VYM
$19.01/mo
$228 /yr at 2.28% yield
RDVY
$7.12/mo
$85 /yr at 0.85% yield
| Year | VYM | RDVY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.5008 | $0.7733 |
| 2024 | $3.4945 | $0.9722 |
| 2023 | $3.4780 | $1.0797 |
| 2022 | $3.2518 | $0.9700 |
| 2021 | $3.0961 | $0.5390 |
Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.
What VYM vs RDVY actually do
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 | VYM | RDVY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.19% | 0.40% |
| 3 months | 0.62% | -0.46% |
| Year to date | 12.28% | 14.63% |
| 1 year | 14.10% | 18.85% |
| 3 years | 68.66% | 86.40% |
| 5 years | 67.01% | 69.79% |
- VYM
- RDVY
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VYM
- RDVY
| Largest shared holdings | VYM weight | RDVY weight |
|---|---|---|
| JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co | 3.75% | 2.01% |
| BACBank of America Corp | 1.50% | 1.78% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co | 1.03% | 1.47% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM Inc | 0.82% | 0.53% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc | 1.80% | 0.50% |
| CBChubb Ltd | 0.49% | 2.11% |
| CCitigroup Inc | 0.91% | 0.48% |
| ACNAccenture PLC | 0.48% | 2.21% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing Inc | 0.44% | 2.26% |
| PGRProgressive Corp/The | 0.51% | 0.42% |
VYM589 holdings total
RDVY72 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. | 2.35% |
| VVisa Inc. (Class A) | 2.26% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.26% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corporation | 2.23% |
| EXPEExpedia Group, Inc. | 2.23% |
| ACNAccenture plc | 2.21% |
| LRCXLam Research Corporation | 2.18% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 2.17% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. (Class A) | 2.16% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.14% |
Quick verdict
VYM fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. RDVY fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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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.