Best Of
Best Dividend Growth ETFs in 2026
ETFs focused on companies with a track record of growing their dividends over time.
Data updated June 2026 · 40 ETFs
Who this page is for
Best for
- Long-time-horizon investors building a rising income stream
- Younger investors who prefer growing income over high current yield
- Anyone looking for natural inflation-hedging through rising dividends
Not a fit for
- Investors needing maximum income today — starting yields are typically 2-3%
- Short-term traders chasing headline distribution rates
- Pure growth investors who prefer non-dividend-paying stocks
Analysis
The dividend growth ETF category is defined by funds targeting companies with records of consistent dividend increases, though the 40-fund universe shown here spans a wide range of strategies — from pure dividend appreciation indexes to high-yield equity, real estate, and even country-specific exposures like EWY. The category is heavily concentrated among established issuers, with Vanguard, Schwab, and iShares dominating the top of the AUM rankings. A notable trend is the rising presence of actively managed entrants such as CGDV from Capital Group, signaling growing investor appetite for manager-driven dividend selection alongside traditional passive approaches.
- VIG, SCHD, and VYM each carry an expense ratio of just 0.06%, among the lowest in the top 10 shown here, while collectively accounting for over $281 billion in AUM.
- EWY stands out among the funds shown above as the only annual-paying fund and commands the highest expense ratio in this top 10 at 0.59%, offering a yield of 1.03% — a notable cost-yield tradeoff.
- CGDV, despite its actively managed approach and 0.33% expense ratio, has accumulated $35.5B in AUM, reflecting strong demand for Capital Group's dividend value strategy.
- The category average yield of 3.29% masks significant dispersion, with yields in the top 10 here ranging from 0.74% (RDVY) to 3.47% (VNQ).
- RDVY from First Trust delivers the lowest yield in this top 10 at 0.74% despite a 0.49% expense ratio, reflecting its focus on dividend growth trajectory rather than current income.
Investors in this category should be aware that "dividend growth" does not guarantee high current income — many funds prioritize growth potential over yield, producing meaningful variation between distribution levels and total return profiles. Interest rate sensitivity varies considerably, particularly for real estate-oriented holdings like VNQ, and expense ratios across the broader 40-fund universe span a wide range that can compound meaningfully over time.
AI-generated analysis — AI can make mistakes. Verify important information independently. Not investment advice. Learn more
Top picks
Top 3 dividend growth ETFs by assets under management.
Yield distribution
Expense ratio distribution
Income projection
Estimated annual, monthly, and weekly income based on the average yield of 3.29% across these 40 ETFs. For illustration only—actual income will vary.
| Investment | Annual income | Monthly income | Weekly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $329 | $27 | $6 |
| $25,000 | $822 | $69 | $16 |
| $50,000 | $1,644 | $137 | $32 |
| $100,000 | $3,288 | $274 | $63 |
Issuer breakdown
Distribution of ETFs by fund issuer. Larger issuers often offer lower expense ratios and higher liquidity.
All 40 ETFs
| Ticker | Name | Issuer | Yield | Expense ratio | AUM | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIG | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 1.70% | 0.06% | $107.9B | Quarterly |
| SCHD | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Schwab | 3.15% | 0.06% | $95.2B | Quarterly |
| VYM | Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 2.48% | 0.06% | $78.3B | Quarterly |
| DGRO | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | iShares | 1.75% | 0.08% | $40.6B | Quarterly |
| VNQ | Vanguard Real Estate ETF | Vanguard | 3.47% | 0.12% | $37.7B | Quarterly |
| CGDV | Capital Group Dividend Value ETF | Capital Group | 0.91% | 0.33% | $35.5B | Quarterly |
| EWY | iShares MSCI South Korea ETF | iShares | 1.03% | 0.59% | $23.4B | Annual |
| DVY | iShares Select Dividend ETF | iShares | 3.15% | 0.38% | $23.1B | Quarterly |
| RDVY | First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | First Trust | 0.74% | 0.49% | $22.5B | Quarterly |
| SDY | SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | State Street | 2.53% | 0.35% | $21.1B | Quarterly |
| VYMI | Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF | Vanguard | 5.14% | 0.22% | $19.7B | Quarterly |
| SPHQ | Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF | Invesco | 0.94% | 0.15% | $18.7B | Quarterly |
| IWY | iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | iShares | 0.39% | 0.20% | $16.9B | Quarterly |
| DGRW | WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | WisdomTree | 2.03% | 0.28% | $16.7B | Monthly |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | iShares | 2.66% | 0.08% | $13.6B | Quarterly |
| NOBL | ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | ProShares | 2.16% | 0.35% | $11.4B | Quarterly |
| SDVY | First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | First Trust | 0.84% | 0.60% | $11.1B | Quarterly |
| IGF | iShares Global Infrastructure ETF | iShares | 2.77% | 0.41% | $10.7B | Semi-Annual |
| FDVV | Fidelity High Dividend ETF | Fidelity Investments | 3.45% | 0.15% | $9.8B | Quarterly |
| EZU | iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF | iShares | 3.63% | 0.51% | $9.5B | Semi-Annual |
| VIGI | Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 2.30% | 0.15% | $8.7B | Quarterly |
| IDV | iShares International Select Dividend ETF | iShares | 10.66% | 0.51% | $8.4B | Quarterly |
| FVD | First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund | First Trust | 2.40% | 0.65% | $8.1B | Quarterly |
| XMMO | Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF | Invesco | 0.60% | 0.34% | $7.7B | Quarterly |
| FDL | First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | First Trust | 3.81% | 0.45% | $7.6B | Quarterly |
| SPYD | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | State Street | 4.47% | 0.07% | $7.5B | Quarterly |
| DIVO | Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | Amplify ETFs | 4.83% | 0.56% | $7.2B | Monthly |
| DXJ | WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | WisdomTree | 1.34% | 0.48% | $6.9B | Semi-Annual |
| DLN | WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | WisdomTree | 2.56% | 0.28% | $6.1B | Monthly |
| CGDG | Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF | Capital Group | 1.47% | 0.47% | $5.2B | Quarterly |
| LVHI | Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | Franklin Templeton | 6.16% | 0.40% | $5.0B | Quarterly |
| TDIV | First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | First Trust | 1.51% | 0.50% | $4.4B | Quarterly |
| DEM | WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund | WisdomTree | 5.47% | 0.63% | $4.0B | Quarterly |
| DON | WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend Fund | WisdomTree | 3.28% | 0.38% | $3.9B | Monthly |
| MLPX | Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF | Global X | 4.03% | 0.45% | $3.5B | Quarterly |
| KNG | FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF | First Trust | 8.21% | 0.75% | $3.4B | Monthly |
| GCOW | Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF | Pacer | 3.84% | 0.60% | $3.3B | Quarterly |
| RDVI | FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF | First Trust | 8.48% | 0.75% | $3.3B | Monthly |
| SPHD | Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF | Invesco | 4.89% | 0.30% | $3.3B | Monthly |
| DIVI | Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF | Franklin Templeton | 6.29% | 0.09% | $2.5B | Quarterly |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best dividend growth ETFs?
This page lists the top 40 ETFs in this category ranked by key metrics. The list includes funds from issuers like Vanguard, Schwab, iShares and more.
How often is this list updated?
The data on this page is refreshed regularly using the latest available distribution rates, expense ratios, and AUM figures. Last updated June 2026.
What is the average yield of these ETFs?
The average distribution yield across the 40 ETFs on this list is 3.29%. Individual yields range from 6.29% to 1.70%.
What's the difference between dividend growth and high-yield ETFs?
High-yield ETFs prioritize current income (high payout today), while dividend growth ETFs prioritize income trajectory (growing payout over time). Dividend growth strategies typically start with lower yields but deliver higher income after 5-10 years of compounding raises.
What are Dividend Aristocrats?
Dividend Aristocrats are S&P 500 companies that have increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years. ETFs tracking these companies (like NOBL) offer exposure to the most reliable dividend growers in the market.
Are dividend growth ETFs good for young investors?
Yes. The compounding effect of rising dividends is most powerful over long time horizons. A young investor buying a dividend growth ETF today may see their yield on cost double or triple by retirement, creating a substantial income stream from a modest initial investment.
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