VIG vs VYM Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VIG and VYM sit in related but distinct corners of the ETF landscape — VIG centers on the lowest-cost way to own long-term dividend growers, while VYM focuses on broad, diversified exposure to above-average-yielding US stocks. 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 VYM comes down to which specific exposure — the lowest-cost way to own long-term dividend growers or broad, diversified exposure to above-average-yielding US stocks — better matches the role you want this holding to play in a diversified portfolio.
VYM holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VYM has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+19.71% vs +16.44% 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 broad, diversified exposure to above-average-yielding US stocks
- prefer Vanguard's approach and fund lineup
- value very low expense ratio for a dividend-focused fund
- are comfortable with minimal quality screening beyond yield itself
| Metric | VIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 27.3 | 27.3 |
| Latest closei | $247.47 | $163.27 |
| 1M returni | +5.28% | +4.35% |
| 3M returni | +1.85% | -0.68% |
| 6M returni | +9.01% | +5.67% |
| 1Y returni | +16.44% | +19.71% |
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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.83K (+18.3%) started 2025-11-03 | $12.27K (+22.7%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $17.95K (+79.5%) started 2021-11-04 | $20.06K (+100.6%) started 2021-11-04 |
| 10Y ago | $45.18K (+351.8%) started 2016-11-04 | $44.93K (+349.3%) started 2016-11-04 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $127.6B | $95.75B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.56% | 2.37% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 25.87 | 20.42 |
| Betai | 0.80 | 0.74 |
| 52-week change | 16.44% | 19.71% |
| Metric | VIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +16.44% | +19.71% |
| 6M returni | +9.01% | +5.67% |
| 3M returni | +1.85% | -0.68% |
| 1M returni | +5.28% | +4.35% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.13 | 1.40 |
| Betai | 0.80 | 0.74 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.56% | 2.37% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.29% | +11.46% |
Over the past year, VIG and VYM have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.93), 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +16.44% | +19.71% |
| CAGRi | +16.46% | +19.72% | |
| Volatilityi | 9.99% | 10.02% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.13 | 1.40 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.70 | 2.13 | |
| Max drawdowni | 7.91% | 6.69% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.68% | 1.71% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.50% | 1.64% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 2.28% | 2.40% | |
| Max daily dropi | 1.69% | 1.54% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 2.71% | 2.78% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +63.10% | +71.93% |
| CAGRi | +10.29% | +11.46% | |
| Volatilityi | 14.13% | 13.76% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.45 | 0.53 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.64 | 0.76 | |
| Max drawdowni | 20.39% | 15.84% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.68% | 1.71% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.23% | 3.02% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 6.24% | 4.29% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.69% | 5.70% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.30% | 10.80% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +267.60% | +215.93% |
| CAGRi | +13.91% | +12.20% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.01% | 16.28% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.62 | 0.51 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.86 | 0.72 | |
| Max drawdowni | 31.72% | 35.21% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.68% | 1.71% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.55% | 3.55% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.71% | 5.68% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.66% | 10.06% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 16.11% | 19.13% |
| Category | VIG | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $127.6B | $95.75B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.56% | 2.37% |
- Strict 10-year dividend-increase requirement filters for stability
- Very low expense ratio
- Historically lower volatility than the broad market
- Very low expense ratio for a dividend-focused fund
- Broader diversification across more holdings than concentrated dividend funds
- Straightforward, yield-driven selection methodology
- 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 itself
- Can include value traps with unsustainable payout ratios
- Lower yield than more concentrated high-income funds
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