VIG vs SDY: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF SharesState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
VIG vs SDY at a glance
This page compares Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares (VIG) with State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) using prices and distributions through September 25, 2026. The numbers update automatically after each trading session.
With dividends reinvested, VIG has led over the last 12 months at +12.63% versus +10.47% for SDY. SDY currently yields 2.54% (trailing 12-month) against 1.51% for VIG. Across five years the total-return gap is +63.89% for VIG vs +42.38% for SDY.
The higher-yielding fund (SDY) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.
| Metric | VIG | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $237.58 | $148.59 |
| Dividend yield | 1.51% (TTM) | 2.54% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $3.58 (4 payments) | $3.78 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | Vanguard | State Street |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: VIG vs SDY
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Dividends
Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| VIG | SDY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2026 | $0.999 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.917 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | $0.833 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.968 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | $0.884 | Mar 23, 2026 | $0.874 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | $0.865 | Dec 22, 2025 | $1.02 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | $0.871 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.871 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | $0.938 | Jun 23, 2025 | $0.927 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | $0.876 | Mar 24, 2025 | $0.818 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | $0.835 | Dec 20, 2024 | $1.03 |
| Jun 28, 2024 | $0.899 | Sep 20, 2024 | $0.785 |
| Mar 22, 2024 | $0.769 | Jun 21, 2024 | $0.859 |
| Dec 21, 2023 | $0.916 | Mar 15, 2024 | $0.708 |
| Sep 28, 2023 | $0.771 | Dec 15, 2023 | $0.978 |
VIG vs SDY: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, VIG or SDY?
As of September 25, 2026, VIG yields 1.51% (trailing 12-month) and SDY yields 2.54% (trailing 12-month), so SDY currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, VIG or SDY?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, VIG returned +12.63% and SDY returned +10.47%. Over five years, VIG returned +63.89% and SDY returned +42.38%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in VIG vs SDY be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,263 in VIG and $11,047 in SDY.
How often do VIG and SDY pay dividends?
VIG pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and SDY pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is VIG or SDY the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
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Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.