A head-to-head comparison of iShares International Dividend Growth ETF and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
IGRO has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.43% total return against 24.58%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYMI has compounded at 10.58% a year, against 8.76% for IGRO. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2016” measures every fund from May 19, 2016 — the start of shared available history — 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.
Seeks 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 FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, investing at least 80% of net assets in the international high-dividend stocks that make up the target index.
Bottom lineChoose IGRO if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose VYMI if you want higher current income (3.23% vs 1.92% for IGRO).
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.
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 VYMI.
IGRO (iShares International Dividend Growth ETF) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VYMI offers the higher yield at 3.23% vs 1.92% for IGRO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VYMI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.07% compared to 0.15%.
They have different reference exposures: IGRO is linked to Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index while VYMI is linked to FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
VYMI is the larger fund by assets ($21.7B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, IGRO would generate roughly $48.00 cash per distribution, while VYMI would produce $80.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
IGRO yield1.92%
VYMI yield3.23%
Cash diff on $10K$32.75
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IGRO would cost approximately $150 in fees vs $70 for VYMI (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IGRO ER0.15%
VYMI ER0.07%
Strategy & risk
IGRO tracks Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. Beta is 0.73 for IGRO and 0.71 for VYMI — effectively similar market sensitivity.
IGRO beta0.73
VYMI beta0.71
Fund details
IGRO is managed by iShares (launched 05/17/2016) with $1.27B in assets. VYMI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $21.7B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for IGRO and VYMI?
IGRO currently distributes 1.92% and VYMI 3.23%, 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 IGRO or VYMI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VYMI 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 VYMI?
IGRO (iShares International Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index, while VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both IGRO and VYMI?
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 VYMI 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: IGRO scores 88, VYMI scores 88. 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, IGRO or VYMI?
IGRO has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VYMI charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in IGRO vs VYMI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in IGRO would generate roughly $48.00 cash per distribution ($192.00 annually). The same in VYMI would produce about $80.75 cash per distribution ($323.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IGRO or VYMI?
IGRO has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.43% total return against 24.58%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYMI has compounded at 10.58% a year, against 8.76% for IGRO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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