A head-to-head comparison of iShares Select Dividend ETF and Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DVY.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VYM.
Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares
Issuer
iShares
Vanguard
Last Close
$159.48 as of July 15, 2026
$160.18 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield
3.13%
2.45%
Distribution Safety Score
98
100
Expense ratio
0.38%
0.06%
AUM
$23.1B
$78.3B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Underlying index
Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index
a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings
Objective
Dividend Income
Seeks to track the performance of the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which offers exposure to dividend-paying large-cap companies that exhibit value characteristics within the U.S. equity market. The index includes stocks with a history of paying above-average dividends.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
11/03/2003
11/10/2006
Beta
0.57
0.69
Last dividend
$1.2470
$0.9800
Ex-dividend date
06/15/2026
06/18/2026
Bottom lineChoose DVY if you want higher current income (3.13% vs 2.45% for VYM). Choose VYM if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
DVY has lagged VYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.43% total return against 21.57%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYM has compounded at 11.50% a year, against 10.10% for DVY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Nov 2006” measures every fund from November 16, 2006 — 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.
Quick verdict
DVY (iShares Select Dividend ETF) and VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
DVY offers the higher yield at 3.13% vs 2.45% for VYM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VYM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.38%.
They track different benchmarks: DVY is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index while VYM tracks a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings, which means their performance drivers differ.
VYM is the larger fund by assets ($78.3B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose DVY
iShares Select Dividend ETF
Want higher current income — DVY yields 3.13% vs 2.45% for VYM.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Choose VYM
Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares
Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.38% for DVY.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, DVY would generate roughly $26.08/month, while VYM would produce $20.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
DVY yield3.13%
VYM yield2.45%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.67
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, DVY would cost approximately $380 in fees vs $60 for VYM (simplified, not compounded). The $320.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
DVY ER0.38%
VYM ER0.06%
Strategy & risk
DVY tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index with a dividend income approach, while VYM holds a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings with an index approach. Beta is 0.57 for DVY and 0.69 for VYM, indicating DVY is less volatile relative to the market.
DVY beta0.57
VYM beta0.69
Fund details
DVY is managed by iShares (launched 11/03/2003) with $23.1B in assets. VYM is managed by Vanguard (launched 11/10/2006) with $78.3B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DVY or VYM better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DVY 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.
What is the difference between DVY and VYM?
DVY (iShares Select Dividend ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index with a dividend income approach, while VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) holds a basket of Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF holdings with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both DVY and VYM?
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.
Which has lower fees, DVY or VYM?
DVY has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VYM charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in DVY vs VYM generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in DVY would generate roughly $26.08 per month ($313.00 annually). The same in VYM would produce about $20.42 per month ($245.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, DVY or VYM?
DVY has lagged VYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.43% total return against 21.57%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYM has compounded at 11.50% a year, against 10.10% for DVY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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