DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

CGDV vs VIG: Active Dividend Value, or Dividend Growth?

A head-to-head of Capital Group Dividend Value and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation covering active value versus a growth screen.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • CGDVInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • VIGInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

CGDV has outpaced VIG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.45% total return against 16.97%. The lead holds up over 3 years too: CGDV has compounded at 24.15% a year, against 16.34% for VIG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3YSince Feb 2022Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
CGDV14.54%23.45%24.15%18.74%13.7%1.251.84-14.3%
VIG10.61%16.97%16.34%12.38%12.2%0.871.27-15.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Feb 2022” measures every fund from February 24, 2022 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricCGDVVIG
Full nameCapital Group Dividend Value ETFVanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares
IssuerCapital GroupVanguard
Underlying indexActively managed basket of U.S. dividend-paying equitiesS&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index
Last Close$50.08 as of September 4, 2026$242.02 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate1.17%1.65%
Distribution Safety Score™ 99100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.16%1.65%
Expense ratio0.33%0.04%
AUM$38.9B$112B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveActively managed portfolio seeking dividend-paying U.S. companies with attractive valuations.Seeks to track the performance of the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which consists of common stocks of companies that have a record of at least 10 years of increasing regular cash dividend payments.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date02/22/202204/21/2006
Beta0.830.74
Last dividend$0.147$0.999
Ex-dividend date06/30/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose CGDV if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose VIG if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Active dividend value versus dividend growth

CGDV is an active dividend-value book. VIG screens companies that grow dividends. Engine, not a tiny yield gap, decides it.

CGDVVIG
EngineActive dividend valueDividend-growth screen
Expense ratio0.33%0.04%
Distribution yield1.17%1.65%

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

ETFs25
Total AUM$161B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Capital Group is one of the largest ETF providers, known for offering diversified fund solutions across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company manages 291 ETFs organized across seven fund families including Allocation, American Funds, Bond, Dividend, Equity, International, and Municipal, enabling investors to build comprehensive portfolios from income-focused to growth-oriented strategies. Capital Group's broad lineup and established presence across equity, fixed income, and diversified allocation categories position it as a significant player serving both individual and institutional investors with varied investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on CGDV.

ETFs116
Total AUM$4654B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VIG.

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Quick verdict

CGDV (Capital Group Dividend Value ETF) and VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VIG offers the higher yield at 1.65% vs 1.17% for CGDV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VIG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.33%.

They have different reference exposures: CGDV is linked to Actively managed basket of U.S. dividend-paying equities while VIG is linked to S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VIG is the larger fund by assets ($112B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, CGDV would generate roughly $9.75/month, while VIG would produce $13.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

CGDV yield1.17%
VIG yield1.65%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, CGDV would cost approximately $330 in fees vs $40 for VIG (simplified, not compounded). The $290.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

CGDV ER0.33%
VIG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

CGDV is actively managed around Actively managed basket of U.S. dividend-paying equities exposure with a dividend approach, while VIG tracks S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index. Beta is 0.83 for CGDV and 0.74 for VIG, making VIG the less volatile of the two by this measure.

CGDV beta0.83
VIG beta0.74

Fund details

CGDV is managed by Capital Group (launched 02/22/2022) with $38.9B in assets. VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $112B in assets.

CGDV AUM$38.9B
VIG AUM$112B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CGDV and VIG?

CGDV (Capital Group Dividend Value ETF) is an active dividend-value book. VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) screens US companies that grow dividends. Active value versus dividend-growth is the split. Cost is 0.33% versus 0.04%; distributions are 1.17% and 1.65% as of September 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for CGDV and VIG?

CGDV currently distributes 1.17% and VIG 1.65%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is CGDV or VIG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VIG currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Can I hold both CGDV and VIG?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is CGDV or VIG safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: VIG scores 100, CGDV scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, CGDV or VIG?

CGDV has an expense ratio of 0.33% while VIG charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in CGDV vs VIG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in CGDV would generate roughly $9.75 per month ($117.00 annually). The same in VIG would produce about $13.75 per month ($165.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, CGDV or VIG?

CGDV has outpaced VIG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.45% total return against 16.97%. The lead holds up over 3 years too: CGDV has compounded at 24.15% a year, against 16.34% for VIG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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CGDV vs VIG — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

CGDV and VIG are both large-cap U.S. dividend-focused ETFs, but they pursue fundamentally different strategies. Dividend Growers Index, which selects companies with at least 10 consecutive years of dividend increases. The choice between them hinges on whether you believe active stock selection can beat a rules-based dividend-growth filter. That structural gap shows up in fees: VIG's expense ratio is 0.04% versus CGDV's 0.33%, a meaningful gap over decades.

Second, the funds target slightly different stock universes. VIG's index mandate means it holds companies with a proven long dividend-growth track record, which often skews toward stable, mature businesses. CGDV's value tilt and active approach may include companies at earlier dividend-growth stages or those with temporarily depressed valuations. VIG has delivered a higher distribution rate at 1.65% against CGDV's 1.17%, likely reflecting its index screen's bias toward established dividend payers.

Third, beta tells a subtle story about downside behavior. CGDV's 0.83 beta suggests slightly less swing than the broad market, while VIG's 0.74 beta indicates even softer moves—a reflection of its focus on companies with long dividend-stability records. CGDV is newer (inception 02/22/2022) and smaller at in assets, while VIG has been running since 04/21/2006 and oversees in AUM.

Who each is best for

CGDV: Fits investors who believe active managers can identify undervalued dividend payers and are willing to pay for discretionary stock selection in pursuit of potential outperformance over a rules-based index.

VIG: Fits investors who prefer a transparent, low-cost dividend-growth screen with a long track record and want the simplicity and predictability of index methodology rather than manager discretion.

Key risks to know

  • Active management risk (CGDV): Capital Group's managers must outperform the index by enough to cover the 0.33% expense ratio and justify the discretionary call. There is no guarantee active selection will beat a simple dividend-growth filter.
  • Index lag and dividend fatigue (VIG): The 10-year dividend-growth screen works until it doesn't. Companies with long dividend histories can cut or freeze payments during credit stress or sector disruption, and the index screen won't anticipate that. Concentration in mature, slower-growth businesses may also limit capital appreciation relative to broader equities.
  • Valuation sensitivity (CGDV): A value-tilted, actively managed dividend portfolio is more vulnerable to drawdowns when growth stocks outperform or when value investors rotate to other assets. The 0.83 beta offers some cushion, but value traps can persist.
  • Dividend sustainability overlap: Both funds hold dividend-paying stocks, so their underlying holdings likely overlap substantially. If dividend cuts or suspensions spread across the quality corporate segment, both funds absorb similar damage.

Bottom line

If you trust active managers to beat index screens and want a value-focused dividend approach, CGDV's active process and lower beta may appeal; if you prefer transparency, proven dividend-growth criteria, and minimal fees, VIG's index approach and 0.04% expense ratio offer simplicity and a 04/21/2006 track record. The 41-basis-point fee gap compounds over time—over 20 years, that alone may determine whether CGDV outperforms or lags. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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