A-
79 / 100

$VYM

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

Total return is comfortably ahead of the distribution rate — this fund has been growing capital while paying you.

Distribution Yield
2.3%
annualized
Total Return
496%
since inception
Annualized Return
9.35%
average per year
Inception
11/10/2006
20.0 years live
Scorecard Rank
#51
of 177 funds

🎯 How VYM Scored

We grade on total return, not headline yield. A fund that pays 40% while losing 30% of its price is not doing its job.

Annualized return strength29 / 50
Average yearly total return of 9.35% since inception.
Cumulative total return25 / 25
496% in total return since the fund launched.
Yield backed by returns25 / 25
Compares the 2.3% distribution rate against 9.35% annualized return. Higher is healthier.

🧮 VYM Income & Growth Calculator

Enter what you'd invest. We'll show the income at the current distribution rate and project growth at the fund's historical annualized return.

Annual income
—
Monthly income
—
Weekly income
—
Projected value
—
Total gain
—

Projections use VYM's historical annualized total return of 9.35% and its current 2.3% distribution rate, both held flat. Real returns will differ, distributions can be cut, and past performance does not predict future results. Taxes, fees, and return of capital are not modeled. For entertainment only — not financial advice.

🥊 VYM Head-to-Head

See how VYM stacks up against the funds investors compare it with most, measured on average annual total return since inception.

Browse all 300+ ETF matchups →

💵 Similar Yield to VYM

Other funds paying in the 0–3% range, ranked by our scorecard.

SymbolNameYieldAnnualizedGrade
VFLO VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF 0.8% 29.02% A+
DIVB iShares Core Dividend ETF 2.30% 15.11% A+
SCHG Schwab U.S. Growth ETF 0.4% 16.08% A+
DGRO iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF 2.0% 12.64% A+
DGRW WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund 2.1% 12.98% A+
FDVV Fidelity High Dividend ETF 2.8% 13.25% A+
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF 1.1% 14.75% A+
COWS Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF 1.4% 19.33% A
NOBL ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF 2.2% 10.76% A
VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF 1.5% 10.27% A
QVAL Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF 1.50% 9.89% A-
SDY SPDR S&P Dividend ETF 2.4% 9.11% A-

🏆 Highest Annualized Returns

The strongest average annual total returns since inception across every fund we track.

#SymbolNameYieldAnnualized
1 AMDW AMDW AMD WeeklyPay ETF 44.2% 169.57%
2 CHPY YieldMax Semiconductor Portfolio Option Income ETF 40% 73.04%
3 PLTY YieldMax PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF 41% 66.87%
4 HAKY Amplify HACK Cybersecurity Covered Call ETF 15% 59.68%
5 NVDY YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF 30% 52.29%
6 AHD GraniteShares Autocallable HOOD ETF 33% 48.45%
7 AMDY YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF 42% 45.47%
8 SOXY YieldMax® Target 12™ Semiconductor Option Income ETF 12% 44.43%
9 NVII REX NVDA Growth & Income ETF 39% 43.21%
10 XLEI State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF 21.0% 39.48%
11 SNOY YieldMax SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF 46% 37.99%
12 GOOW Roundhill GOOGL WeeklyPay ETF 21.1% 35.38%
13 PLTW Roundhill PLTR WeeklyPay ETF 71.7% 30.46%
14 VFLO VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF 0.8% 29.02%
15 MLPI MLP & Energy Infrastructure High Income ETF 14.3% 27.97%

❓ VYM FAQ

What is the dividend yield of VYM?
VYM currently shows a distribution yield of 2.3%. Yield reflects the most recent distribution annualized and can change with every payment.
What is the total return of VYM since inception?
VYM has returned 496% in total since it launched on 11/10/2006, which works out to roughly 9.35% per year on average.
Is the VYM yield sustainable?
Total return is comfortably ahead of the distribution rate — this fund has been growing capital while paying you. A distribution rate that runs persistently ahead of total return generally means capital is being returned rather than earned.
How is the VYM grade calculated?
Our A- grade combines three things: annualized total return (50 points), cumulative total return since inception (25 points), and whether annualized return keeps pace with the distribution rate (25 points). VYM scored 79 out of 100. This is our opinion only, not investment advice.

🔤 Every ETF We Track

Jump straight to any fund's scorecard.

🌐 More Dividend Research

Built by dividend investors. For dividend investors.