VYM vs SDY: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF SharesState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
VYM vs SDY at a glance
This page compares Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYM) 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, VYM has led over the last 12 months at +15.53% versus +10.47% for SDY. SDY currently yields 2.54% (trailing 12-month) against 2.33% for VYM. Across five years the total-return gap is +73.66% for VYM 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 | VYM | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $157.68 | $148.59 |
| Dividend yield | 2.33% (TTM) | 2.54% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $3.68 (4 payments) | $3.78 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | Vanguard | State Street |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: VYM 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.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| VYM | SDY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | $0.887 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.917 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | $0.980 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.968 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | $0.862 | Mar 23, 2026 | $0.874 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | $0.947 | Dec 22, 2025 | $1.02 |
| Sep 19, 2025 | $0.842 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.871 |
| Jun 20, 2025 | $0.862 | Jun 23, 2025 | $0.927 |
| Mar 21, 2025 | $0.850 | Mar 24, 2025 | $0.818 |
| Dec 20, 2024 | $0.964 | Dec 20, 2024 | $1.03 |
| Sep 20, 2024 | $0.851 | Sep 20, 2024 | $0.785 |
| Jun 21, 2024 | $1.02 | Jun 21, 2024 | $0.859 |
| Mar 15, 2024 | $0.656 | Mar 15, 2024 | $0.708 |
| Dec 18, 2023 | $1.10 | Dec 15, 2023 | $0.978 |
VYM vs SDY: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, VYM or SDY?
As of September 25, 2026, VYM yields 2.33% (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, VYM or SDY?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, VYM returned +15.53% and SDY returned +10.47%. Over five years, VYM returned +73.66% and SDY returned +42.38%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in VYM vs SDY be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,553 in VYM and $11,047 in SDY.
How often do VYM and SDY pay dividends?
VYM pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and SDY pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is VYM 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.