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Dividend Vision

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.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • VIGInvestors who want higher current income (1.63% vs 1.11% for VOO).
  • VOOInvestors 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

VIG has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.84% total return against 20.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.30% a year, against 13.20% 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VIG11.97%18.84%17.26%10.86%13.20%13.13%12.2%0.941.37-15.0%
VOO13.20%20.95%22.16%13.44%15.30%15.02%14.9%1.051.51-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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.
MetricVIGVOO
Full nameVanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF SharesVanguard S&P 500 ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Last Close$244.48 as of August 19, 2026$705.40 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield1.63%1.11%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.04%0.03%
AUM$114B$1045B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P U.S. Dividend Growers IndexS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveSeeks 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 classEquityEquity
Inception date04/21/200609/07/2010
Beta0.741.0
Last dividend$0.9990$1.9622
Ex-dividend date06/26/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose VIG if you want higher current income (1.63% vs 1.11% 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.

VIGVOO
What it ownsS&P U.S. Dividend Growers IndexS&P 500 Index
Expense ratio0.04%0.03%
Distribution yield1.63%1.11%
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Income calculator

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

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4703B

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

VIG offers the higher yield at 1.63% vs 1.11% 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 track different benchmarks: VIG is linked to S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1045B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose VIG

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares

  • Want higher current income — VIG yields 1.63% vs 1.11% 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.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VIG would generate roughly $13.58/month, while VOO would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VIG yield1.63%
VOO yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.33

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 $114B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1045B in assets.

VIG AUM$114B
VOO AUM$1045B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VIG and VOO?

VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) 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 1.63% and 1.11% as of August 2026. A grower screen versus the index is the decision.

What is the current distribution yield for VIG and VOO?

VIG currently distributes 1.63% and VOO 1.11%, 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 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 $13.58 per month ($163.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VIG or VOO?

VIG has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.84% total return against 20.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.30% a year, against 13.20% for VIG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VIG vs VOO — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

VIG and VOO are both broad-market equity ETFs from Vanguard tracking different S&P indexes, with nearly identical expense ratios but fundamentally different selection rules. VOO holds the 500 largest U.S. companies weighted by market cap. VIG holds large-cap stocks with at least 10 years of consecutive dividend increases, currently about 400 holdings. The key distinction: VIG screens for dividend growth history; VOO does not.

How they differ

VOO's strategy is pure market-cap weighting of the S&P 500, making it a true full-market proxy. VIG applies a dividend-growth filter that excludes non-payers and favors companies with proven commitment to shareholder returns, resulting in a smaller, more concentrated portfolio. VIG has delivered a lower beta of 0.74 versus VOO's 1.0, indicating it has historically moved less than the broad market—a natural consequence of tilting toward more mature, stable dividend growers over cyclicals and growth stocks. VIG yields 1.63%, meaningfully higher than VOO's 1.10%, reflecting its tilt toward income. Both charge nearly identical fees: VOO at 0.03% and VIG at 0.06%, though VOO's $1032B in AUM dwarfs VIG's $114B.

Who each is best for

VIG: Fits investors who want exposure to large-cap stocks while tilting toward companies with a multi-decade track record of raising dividends, and who value lower volatility relative to the broad market.

VOO: Fits investors seeking the simplest, lowest-cost proxy to the S&P 500's full composition and market-cap weighting, without filtering for dividend behavior or other characteristics.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration and sector tilt: VIG's dividend-growth filter naturally overweights stable, mature sectors (utilities, financials, consumer staples) and underweights growth areas (technology, healthcare innovators). This tilt improves income but may lag in growth-driven market cycles.
  • Overlap and overlap drift: Both ETFs hold large-cap U.S. stocks, so their holdings overlap substantially. VIG's filtering criteria mean it excludes some major S&P 500 constituents—particularly non-dividend-paying tech and biotech leaders—which could become a tracking deviation source if those sectors outperform.
  • Lower growth potential: VIG's lower beta and mature-company bias suggest structurally lower upside capture in bull markets compared to a full-market portfolio, a tradeoff for downside cushioning.
  • Dividend sustainability in downturns: VIG's selection rule (10+ years of increases) is backward-looking. Economic stress can force dividend cuts among its holdings, particularly in cyclical sectors like financials.

Bottom line

If you prioritize the broadest market exposure at the absolute lowest cost and don't need dividend income, VOO's scale and 0.03% fee are hard to beat. If you want to tilt toward established dividend-growth companies and accept lower volatility and a slight fee premium in exchange, VIG's 1.63% yield and 0.74 beta may align better with your goals. 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.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

What the distribution rate really tells you Why a high yield isn't high income How to read a fund's stats T-bills vs. money market funds vs. CDs

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