ETF Comparison

VIG vs VOO: Rising Payouts, or Broad Large Caps?

A head-to-head of Vanguard's Dividend Appreciation ETF and S&P 500 ETF covering the screen, cost, and what holding both already shares.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

VIGInvestors who want higher current income (1.58% vs 1.03% for VOO).
VOOInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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.

VIG has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 10.12% total return against 16.45%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.46% a year, against 13.00% 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.
Symbol	YTD cumulative	1Y cumulative	3Y annualized	5Y annualized	10Y annualized	Since Sep 2010	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
VIG	7.84%	10.12%	16.94%	10.68%	13.00%	12.76%	12.2%	0.92	1.34	-15.0%
VOO	13.59%	16.45%	23.23%	13.71%	15.46%	14.93%	14.8%	1.11	1.61	-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 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 Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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.
Metric	VIG	VOO
Full name	Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Issuer	Vanguard	Vanguard
Underlying index	S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index	S&P 500 Index
Last Close	$235.05 as of October 2, 2026	$707.54 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate	1.58%	1.03%
Trailing 12-month yield	1.55%	1.05%
Distribution Safety Score™	100	100
Safety-Adjusted Yield	1.58%	1.03%
Expense ratio	0.04%	0.03%
AUM	$111B	$1041B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Objective	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.	Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	04/21/2006	09/07/2010
Beta	0.74	1.0
Last dividend	$0.93	$1.8226
Ex-dividend date	09/28/2026	09/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose VIG if you want higher current income (1.58% vs 1.03% for VOO). Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

VIG vs VOO: dividend growers or the S&P 500?

VIG screens for rising payouts. VOO is the index. A grower screen versus broad large caps is the decision.

	VIG	VOO
What it owns	S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index	S&P 500 Index
Expense ratio	0.04%	0.03%
Distribution rate	1.58%	1.03%

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Income calculator

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Vanguard

ETFs116

Total AUM$4676B

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 and VOO.

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Quick verdict

VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VIG offers the higher yield at 1.58% vs 1.03% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.04%.

They have different reference exposures: VIG is linked to S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index while VOO is linked to S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1041B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose VIG

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

Want higher current income — VIG yields 1.58% vs 1.03% for VOO.
Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 1.0 for VOO.

Choose VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.04% for VIG.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VIG would generate roughly $39.50 cash per distribution, while VOO would produce $25.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VIG yield1.58%

VOO yield1.03%

Cash diff on $10K$13.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VIG would cost approximately $40 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VIG ER0.04%

VOO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VIG tracks S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 0.74 for VIG and 1.0 for VOO, making VIG the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VIG beta0.74

VOO beta1.0

Fund details

VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $111B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1041B in assets.

VIG AUM$111B

VOO AUM$1041B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VIG and VOO?

VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) tracks S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index — US companies that raise dividends. VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index. Cost is 0.04% versus 0.03%; distributions are 1.58% and 1.03% as of October 2026. A grower screen versus the index is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for VIG and VOO?

VIG currently distributes 1.58% and VOO 1.03%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is VIG or VOO 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 VIG and VOO?

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 VIG or VOO 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, VOO scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. VIG has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.74 vs 1.00 for VOO). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VIG or VOO?

VIG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $39.50 cash per distribution ($158.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $25.75 cash per distribution ($103.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VIG or VOO?

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Dividend dates and history

VIG vs VOO — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

VIG and VOO are both broad-market large-cap ETFs from Vanguard that track different S&P indexes. VOO replicates the S&P 500's 500 largest U.S. companies; VIG screens for companies with at least 10 consecutive years of rising dividends, making it a dividend-focused subset of the large-cap universe. The key distinction is VIG's dividend-growth filter versus VOO's market-cap weighting with no dividend requirements.

How they differ

VIG's core difference is its dividend eligibility screen: it holds only companies demonstrating a decade-long history of increasing payouts, while VOO includes all 500 index constituents regardless of dividend history or trend. This filter shrinks VIG's universe and tilts its holdings toward mature, slower-growing firms; VOO's broader base captures faster-growing companies that pay minimal or no dividends.

Because of this tilt, VIG's yield sits at 1.58% versus 1.03% for VOO—a difference of 0.55 percentage points. VIG's beta of 0.74 is notably lower than VOO's 1.0, reflecting lower overall market sensitivity from its value and dividend-growth bias.

Who each is best for

VIG: Fits investors who prioritize current dividend income and prefer companies with demonstrated dividend discipline, and who are comfortable accepting lower growth exposure and steadier, less volatile returns than the broad market.

VOO: Designed for investors seeking pure S&P 500 market exposure without sector or style tilts, including those who don't prioritize dividend yield and want the simplest, largest-base tracking vehicle for total U.S. large-cap returns.

Key risks to know

Dividend-screen concentration in VIG: The 10-year dividend-growth requirement eliminates faster-growing, innovation-heavy sectors (especially technology) and overweights mature, slower-growth industries. This style bias means VIG's returns can lag materially during growth-led market cycles, as happened in 2020–2021.

Lower equity-market beta in VIG: A beta of 0.74 means VIG amplifies downside less than the market but also captures upside less fully. In strong bull markets, this dampening will likely drag returns relative to VOO, creating a tradeoff between stability and participation.

VOO's concentration in mega-cap tech: Because VOO tracks the S&P 500 unfiltered, it carries larger weightings in the index's dominant sectors—particularly technology and large-cap growth—which can amplify losses if those sectors face sudden repricing or regulation.

VIG's yield sustainability risk: A 1.58% yield from a dividend-growth strategy is modest, but VIG's lower growth profile means dividend increases may slow in economic downturns, and the fund's price appreciation potential is more limited than VOO's.

Bottom line

VOO is the simpler, larger choice for pure S&P 500 exposure; VIG trades market-cap weighting for a dividend-growth tilt that raises yield but lowers growth capture and beta. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.