VIG vs SPYD Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VIG and SPYD sit in related but distinct corners of the ETF landscape — VIG centers on the lowest-cost way to own long-term dividend growers, while SPYD focuses on maximum current yield from within the S&P 500 universe. Investors choosing between them should weigh how each fund's strategy lines up with their own goals rather than assuming they're interchangeable.
Choosing between VIG and SPYD comes down to which specific exposure — the lowest-cost way to own long-term dividend growers or maximum current yield from within the S&P 500 universe — better matches the role you want this holding to play in a diversified portfolio.
SPYD holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. SPYD has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+12.11% vs +11.70% for VIG).
- want the lowest-cost way to own long-term dividend growers
- prefer Vanguard's approach and fund lineup
- value strict 10-year dividend-increase requirement filters for stability
- are comfortable with lower current yield than high-dividend-focused funds
- want maximum current yield from within the S&P 500 universe
- prefer State Street's approach and fund lineup
- value one of the highest current yields among large-cap dividend ETFs
- are comfortable with minimal quality screening beyond yield can include value traps
| Metric | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 71.0 | 67.0 |
| Latest closei | $237.00 | $47.59 |
| 1M returni | -3.27% | -5.76% |
| 6M returni | +12.20% | +8.84% |
| 1Y returni | +11.70% | +12.11% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.35K (+13.5%) started 2025-09-18 | $11.74K (+17.4%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $18.31K (+83.1%) started 2021-09-20 | $19.27K (+92.7%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $42.06K (+320.6%) started 2016-09-19 | $38.77K (+287.7%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $132.41B | $7.65B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.48% | 4.09% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 24.84 | 16.38 |
| Betai | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| 52-week change | 11.70% | 12.11% |
| Metric | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +11.70% | +12.11% |
| 6M returni | +12.20% | +8.84% |
| 1M returni | -3.27% | -5.76% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.71 | 0.65 |
| Betai | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.48% | 4.09% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.72% | +8.81% |
Over the past year, VIG and SPYD have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.58), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +11.70% | +12.11% |
| CAGRi | +11.71% | +12.12% | |
| Volatilityi | 10.10% | 11.80% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.71 | 0.65 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.03 | 0.96 | |
| Max drawdowni | 7.91% | 7.05% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.90% | 6.10% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.30% | 1.73% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 2.08% | 2.38% | |
| Max daily dropi | 1.96% | 2.06% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 2.71% | 4.04% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +66.31% | +52.42% |
| CAGRi | +10.72% | +8.81% | |
| Volatilityi | 14.19% | 15.93% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.47 | 0.33 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.68 | 0.47 | |
| Max drawdowni | 20.39% | 22.25% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.90% | 6.10% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.19% | 6.17% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 6.23% | 8.17% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.69% | 5.08% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.30% | 12.06% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +243.82% | +120.80% |
| CAGRi | +13.15% | +8.25% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.00% | 19.75% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.57 | 0.27 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.80 | 0.38 | |
| Max drawdowni | 31.72% | 46.42% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.90% | 6.10% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.55% | 6.43% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.71% | 10.06% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.66% | 13.93% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 16.11% | 25.65% |
| Category | VIG | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $132.41B | $7.65B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.48% | 4.09% |
- Strict 10-year dividend-increase requirement filters for stability
- Very low expense ratio
- Historically lower volatility than the broad market
- One of the highest current yields among large-cap dividend ETFs
- Equal weighting avoids over-concentration in any single stock
- Very low expense ratio
- Lower current yield than high-dividend-focused funds
- Excludes REITs, which don't meet the growth-streak requirement
- Can underperform during strong growth-stock rallies
- Minimal quality screening beyond yield can include value traps
- Sector concentration often skews toward REITs, utilities, and financials
- Little emphasis on dividend growth or total-return quality
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