A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated August 5, 2026
Best for
VIGIInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
VYMIInvestors who want higher current income (4.83% vs 2.17% for VIGI).
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 VIGI and VYMI.
Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares
Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Issuer
Vanguard
Vanguard
Last Close
$98.30 as of August 5, 2026
$104.17 as of August 5, 2026
Distribution yield
2.17%
4.83%
Distribution Safety Score™
90
88
Expense ratio
0.15%
0.07%
AUM
$9.16B
$21.1B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Underlying index
Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index
FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index
Objective
—
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.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
02/25/2016
02/25/2016
Beta
0.75
0.74
Last dividend
$0.5340
$1.2570
Ex-dividend date
06/18/2026
06/18/2026
Bottom lineChoose VIGI if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose VYMI if you want higher current income (4.83% vs 2.17% for VIGI).
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
VIGI has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.53% total return against 33.83%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYMI has compounded at 11.09% a year, against 8.18% for VIGI. 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 August 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Mar 2016” measures every fund from March 2, 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
VIGI (Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) 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 4.83% vs 2.17% for VIGI. 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 track different benchmarks: VIGI is linked to Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
VYMI is the larger fund by assets ($21.1B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, VIGI would generate roughly $18.08/month, while VYMI would produce $40.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
VIGI yield2.17%
VYMI yield4.83%
Monthly diff on $10K$22.17
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, VIGI would cost approximately $150 in fees vs $70 for VYMI (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
VIGI ER0.15%
VYMI ER0.07%
Strategy & risk
VIGI tracks Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index with a growth approach, while VYMI tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. Beta is 0.75 for VIGI and 0.74 for VYMI, indicating VYMI is less volatile relative to the market.
VIGI beta0.75
VYMI beta0.74
Fund details
VIGI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $9.16B in assets. VYMI is managed by Vanguard (launched 02/25/2016) with $21.1B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for VIGI and VYMI?
VIGI currently distributes 2.17% and VYMI 4.83%, 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 VIGI 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 VIGI and VYMI?
VIGI (Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) tracks Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index with a growth approach, while VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both VIGI 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.
Which has lower fees, VIGI or VYMI?
VIGI 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 VIGI vs VYMI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in VIGI would generate roughly $18.08 per month ($217.00 annually). The same in VYMI would produce about $40.25 per month ($483.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, VIGI or VYMI?
VIGI has lagged VYMI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.53% total return against 33.83%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VYMI has compounded at 11.09% a year, against 8.18% for VIGI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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