DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

IGRO vs VIG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares International Dividend Growth ETF and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 13, 2026

Best for

  • IGROInvestors who want higher current income (5.17% vs 1.62% for VIG).
  • VIGInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricIGROVIG
Full nameiShares International Dividend Growth ETFVanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares
IssueriSharesVanguard
Last Close$92.38 as of August 13, 2026$246.19 as of August 13, 2026
Distribution yield5.17%1.62%
Distribution Safety Score™ 88100
Expense ratio0.15%0.06%
AUM$1.30B$114B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexMorningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Indexa basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of the Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, which measures the performance of non-U.S. developed and emerging market equities with a history of consistently growing dividends. Companies must have a payout ratio below 75% and are excluded if they fall in the top decile based on dividend yield.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 date05/17/201604/21/2006
Beta0.740.74
Last dividend$1.1940$0.9990
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose IGRO if you want higher current income (5.17% vs 1.62% for VIG). Choose VIG if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Model this comparison:
Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs469
Total AUM$4661B

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 IGRO.

See all iShares ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4657B

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.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

IGRO has outpaced VIG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.91% total return against 21.04%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VIG has compounded at 13.21% a year, ahead of IGRO at 9.13%. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2016Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IGRO12.54%22.91%17.53%9.08%9.13%9.47%13.0%0.901.29-11.1%
VIG12.51%21.04%16.66%10.80%13.21%13.69%12.3%0.901.30-15.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 12, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2016” measures every fund from May 19, 2016 — 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

IGRO (iShares International Dividend Growth ETF) and VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IGRO offers the higher yield at 5.17% vs 1.62% for VIG. 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 0.06% compared to 0.15%.

They track different benchmarks: IGRO is linked to Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index while VIG tracks a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings, which means their performance drivers differ.

VIG is the larger fund by assets ($114B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose IGRO

iShares International Dividend Growth ETF

  • Want higher current income — IGRO yields 5.17% vs 1.62% for VIG.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.

Choose VIG

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation 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 0.15% for IGRO.

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, IGRO would generate roughly $43.08/month, while VIG would produce $13.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IGRO yield5.17%
VIG yield1.62%
Monthly diff on $10K$29.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IGRO would cost approximately $150 in fees vs $60 for VIG (simplified, not compounded). The $90.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IGRO ER0.15%
VIG ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

IGRO tracks Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, while VIG holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach.

IGRO beta0.74
VIG beta0.74

Fund details

IGRO is managed by iShares (launched 05/17/2016) with $1.30B in assets. VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $114B in assets.

IGRO AUM$1.30B
VIG AUM$114B
Ready to act?
Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for IGRO and VIG?

IGRO currently distributes 5.17% and VIG 1.62%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IGRO or VIG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IGRO 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 IGRO and VIG?

IGRO (iShares International Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, while VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both IGRO 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 IGRO 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 — VIG scores 100, IGRO scores 88, so VIG's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IGRO or VIG?

IGRO has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VIG charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IGRO would generate roughly $43.08 per month ($517.00 annually). The same in VIG would produce about $13.50 per month ($162.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IGRO or VIG?

IGRO has outpaced VIG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.91% total return against 21.04%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VIG has compounded at 13.21% a year, ahead of IGRO at 9.13%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IGRO vs VIG — at a glance

Generated August 8, 2026.

Overview

IGRO and VIG are both dividend-focused ETFs tracking indexes of companies with histories of growing payouts, but they cover entirely different geographies. IGRO targets non-U.S. developed and emerging markets via the Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, while VIG focuses exclusively on large-cap U.S. equities through the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index. The key distinction: IGRO offers international diversification with a higher yield; VIG provides domestic exposure with lower volatility and minimal expense drag.

How they differ

The most fundamental difference is geography. IGRO invests in dividend-growing companies outside the U.S., while VIG is purely U.S.-focused. This choice drives everything else: IGRO's distribution rate is 5.12% versus VIG's 1.63%, reflecting both the higher yields available in international markets and potentially different payout norms. IGRO also requires companies to exclude those in the top decile by dividend yield and maintain payout ratios below 75%, screening for sustainability; VIG simply tracks companies with 10 years of consecutive dividend increases. IGRO is substantially smaller with $1.30B in AUM and a 0.15% expense ratio, while VIG commands $114B and charges 0.06%—reflecting VIG's position as one of Vanguard's flagship dividend funds. Both have similar betas near 0.75, but their fee structures and scale differ meaningfully.

Who each is best for

  • IGRO: Fits investors seeking international equity exposure who want dividend growth as the selection mechanism and can tolerate currency risk and emerging-market volatility for potentially higher current income.
  • VIG: Fits investors who want dividend growth tied exclusively to large-cap U.S. companies and prioritize low costs, capital appreciation potential, and simplified domestic-only portfolio construction.

Key risks to know

  • Currency fluctuation: IGRO's non-U.S. holdings mean dividend payments and NAV fluctuate with exchange rates; a strengthening dollar reduces both returns and the yield on converted income.
  • Emerging-market exposure: IGRO's inclusion of emerging-market dividend growers introduces political and economic instability risk, regulatory changes, and potentially lower liquidity than developed-market holdings; this volatility is not fully captured by the 0.74 beta.
  • Yield sustainability at 5.12%: IGRO's distribution rate significantly exceeds VIG's; verify that this reflects genuine underlying yield rather than NAV erosion, particularly given the fund's smaller size and lower AUM base.
  • Domestic concentration: VIG's exclusive focus on U.S. large-cap dividend growers means no geographic diversification; if U.S. dividend-paying stocks underperform, the entire portfolio is exposed.
  • Sector overlap: Both funds will likely concentrate in utilities, consumer staples, and financials—sectors that dominate dividend-growth universes—increasing correlation risk if those sectors face headwinds simultaneously.

Bottom line

If you want international dividend income and can tolerate currency and emerging-market risk, IGRO's 5.12% yield and global reach stand out. If you prioritize U.S. domestic exposure, lower fees, and less volatility, VIG's 0.06% expense ratio and $114B scale offer simplicity. Past performance doesn't predict future results, and currency movements will significantly affect IGRO returns for U.S.-based investors.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns T-bills vs. money market funds vs. CDs

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener