VFH ETF — Vanguard Financials ETF

Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH)

Updated October 16, 2026.

VFH is a low-cost ETF that tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Financials 25/50 Index. its distribution rate is 1.32%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.75%, its expense ratio is 0.09%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 96/100 (Safe). Total return is 336.3% over the past 22.7 years, 582.1 points behind SPY at 918.4%.

Vanguard Financials ETF tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Financials 25/50 Index, holding a broad range of large, mid-size, and small U.S. financial companies in approximate index weights. The fund has a modest current distribution rate and pays distributions quarterly, with a very low expense ratio of 0.09%. It appeals to investors seeking broad exposure to the U.S. financials sector through a passively managed, low-cost vehicle.

VFH performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 336.3% over the past 22.7 years, 582.1 points behind SPY at 918.4%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 9.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 14.7%.

VFH key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

96 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

1.27%

Issuer

Vanguard

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

01/26/2004

Expense ratio

0.09%

Distribution rate

1.32%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

1.75%

Last close

$134.75 (stale; as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$13,152,719,905

Average volume

565800.0

Dividend

$0.446

Ex-dividend date

09/23/2026

Payment date

09/25/2026

Beta

0.82

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.32%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.75%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: Vanguard or company page; Index: MSCI US Investable Market Financials 25/50 Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

VFH risks and drawbacks

VFH's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 14.7%.

Who may consider VFH — and who may not

VFH may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (VFH pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on VFH

• VFH dividend calendar
• VFH dividend history
• All tickers starting with V

Tagged: Basket, Financials, Index.

Compare VFH

VFH vs similar funds:

• VFH vs XLF

Frequently asked questions

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