Best Of
Best Dividend Growth ETFs in 2026
ETFs focused on companies with a track record of growing their dividends over time.
Data updated May 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 spans a wide range of strategies, from pure appreciation plays to high-yield and real estate income approaches, unified by a focus on companies with consistent or growing distributions. Among the 40 funds in this category, Vanguard dominates by assets, with four funds appearing in the top 10 shown here, alongside offerings from Schwab, BlackRock, Capital Group, iShares, and State Street. The category's average yield of 5.74% reflects significant variation across the full 40-fund universe, as the top 10 shown here skew toward lower-yielding, blue-chip-oriented strategies.
Key observations:
- VIG and VYM both carry an expense ratio of just 0.04%, making them among the lowest-cost options in the funds shown above, while commanding the two largest AUM figures at $124.6B and $94.6B respectively.
- CGDV charges 0.33% for an actively managed approach but delivers a yield of only 1.14%, the lowest among the top 10 shown here, presenting a notable cost-vs-income tradeoff for yield-focused investors.
- SCHD balances a competitive 3.28% yield with a slim 0.06% expense ratio and $91.1B in AUM, standing out among the funds shown above for its combination of income and cost efficiency.
- RDVY carries the highest expense ratio among this group at 0.47% while offering the second-lowest yield at 0.95%, a combination worth scrutinizing for income-oriented investors.
- All 10 funds shown distribute quarterly, despite the broader category including monthly, weekly, and non-distributing options across all 40 funds.
Investors should be mindful that lower-yielding funds in this category may prioritize dividend growth rate over current income, which can disappoint those needing near-term cash flow. Additionally, VNQ's real estate focus introduces sector concentration risk, and currency exposure in VYMI adds volatility that purely domestic funds avoid. Expense ratios vary meaningfully — from 0.04% to 0.47% here — and that drag compounds significantly over long holding periods.
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 5.74% across these 40 ETFs. For illustration only—actual income will vary.
| Investment | Annual income | Monthly income | Weekly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $574 | $48 | $11 |
| $25,000 | $1,434 | $119 | $28 |
| $50,000 | $2,868 | $239 | $55 |
| $100,000 | $5,735 | $478 | $110 |
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 | 1.52% | 0.04% | $124.6B | Quarterly |
| VYM | Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 2.21% | 0.04% | $94.6B | Quarterly |
| SCHD | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Schwab | 3.28% | 0.06% | $91.1B | Quarterly |
| VNQ | Vanguard Real Estate ETF | Vanguard | 3.63% | 0.13% | $69.9B | Quarterly |
| DGRO | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | BlackRock | 1.91% | 0.08% | $39.6B | Quarterly |
| CGDV | Capital Group Dividend Value ETF | Capital Group | 1.14% | 0.33% | $33.0B | Quarterly |
| DVY | iShares Select Dividend ETF | iShares | 3.21% | 0.38% | $22.9B | Quarterly |
| SDY | SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | State Street | 2.43% | 0.35% | $22.0B | Quarterly |
| RDVY | First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | First Trust | 0.95% | 0.47% | $22.0B | Quarterly |
| VYMI | Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF | Vanguard | 3.35% | 0.07% | $20.0B | Quarterly |
| IWY | iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF | BlackRock | 0.36% | 0.20% | $16.5B | Quarterly |
| DGRW | WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | WisdomTree | 0.83% | 0.28% | $16.4B | Monthly |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | iShares | 2.73% | 0.08% | $13.6B | Quarterly |
| NOBL | ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | ProShares | 2.05% | 0.35% | $11.3B | Quarterly |
| FDVV | Fidelity High Dividend ETF | Fidelity Investments | 2.84% | 0.15% | $9.2B | Quarterly |
| IDV | iShares International Select Dividend ETF | iShares | 4.40% | 0.50% | $8.5B | Monthly |
| FDL | First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | First Trust | 3.52% | 0.43% | $7.5B | Quarterly |
| SPYD | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | State Street | 4.22% | 0.07% | $7.4B | Quarterly |
| DIVO | Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | Amplify ETFs | 4.81% | 0.56% | $7.0B | Monthly |
| DLN | WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | WisdomTree | 1.50% | 0.28% | $6.0B | Quarterly |
| MLPX | Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF | Global X | 3.87% | 0.45% | $3.5B | Quarterly |
| KNG | FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF | First Trust | 8.72% | 0.74% | $3.4B | Monthly |
| GCOW | Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF | Pacer | 3.22% | 0.60% | $3.3B | — |
| SPHD | Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF | Invesco | 4.99% | 0.30% | $3.3B | Monthly |
| SCHY | Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF | Schwab | 3.55% | 0.08% | $2.2B | Quarterly |
| QDPL | Pacer Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF | Pacer | 4.52% | 0.60% | $1.6B | Quarterly |
| DIVB | iShares Core Dividend ETF | BlackRock | 2.33% | 0.05% | $1.4B | Quarterly |
| SDIV | Global X SuperDividend ETF | Global X | 8.75% | 0.58% | $1.3B | Monthly |
| IDVO | Amplify International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | Amplify ETFs | 6.03% | 0.65% | $1.2B | Monthly |
| DIV | Global X SuperDividend U.S. ETF | Global X | 6.49% | 0.45% | $750M | Monthly |
| QDVO | Amplify CWP Dividend & Option Income ETF | Amplify ETFs | 9.93% | 0.56% | $664M | Monthly |
| WTPI | WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund | WisdomTree | 10.46% | 0.44% | $461M | Monthly |
| KHPI | Kensington High Probability Income ETF | Kensington Asset Management | 9.00% | 0.98% | $360M | Monthly |
| SRET | Global X SuperDividend REIT ETF | Global X | 7.94% | 0.58% | $237M | Monthly |
| FYEE | Fidelity Yield Enhanced Equity ETF | Fidelity Investments | 7.85% | — | $166M | Monthly |
| SEPI | Shelton Equity Premium Income ETF | Shelton Capital Management | 8.40% | 0.54% | $117M | Monthly |
| XDIV | Roundhill U.S. Equity Dividend ETF | Roundhill Investments | 20.00% | 0.08% | $46M | None |
| COWS | Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF | Amplify ETFs | 1.09% | 0.19% | $33M | Monthly |
| NDIV | Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETF | Amplify ETFs | 9.58% | 0.59% | $28M | Monthly |
| DIPS | YieldMax Dividend Premium Income ETF | YieldMax | 41.80% | 1.05% | $10M | Weekly |
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, BlackRock 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 May 2026.
What is the average yield of these ETFs?
The average distribution yield across the 40 ETFs on this list is 5.74%. Individual yields range from 41.80% to 1.52%.
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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