Dividend ETFs
Growth, quality and income comparedA research hub for dividend growth ETFs, high yield dividend ETFs and option-income funds, built to help you find the best dividend ETFs for your goal. Compare how each fund picks its stocks, what it pays, what it costs and where the risks are, with dated figures and sources on every comparison page.
Fund data: Schwab, Vanguard and iShares pages, Sep 30 to Nov 6, 2026 · Educational research, not advice
The three core dividend funds
Dated figures, sources on each comparison| SCHD | VIG | DGRO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF |
| Index | Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 | S&P U.S. Dividend Growers | Morningstar US Dividend Growth |
| Approach | Dividend quality and sustainability | At least ten years of rising dividends | Dividend growth and payout screens |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| 30-day SEC yield | 3.12% (Nov 5) | 1.43% (Oct 31) | 2.07% (Sep 30) |
| Holdings | About 102 | 333 (Sep 30) | 391 (Nov 6) |
| Net assets | $119.9B | $115.8B | $44.7B |
| Largest sector | Consumer staples 20.0% | Technology 26.7% | Financials 19.5% |
| Ten largest holdings | About 41% | 34.5% | 27.4% |
Dates differ by provider and are shown in brackets. SEC yield is a standardized 30-day measure after fund expenses, not a forecast. Sector and top-ten weights are as reported on each comparison page.
Higher yield is not higher return. SCHD pays the most today, VIG costs the least, and DGRO sits between them with the widest list of stocks. Which one fits depends on whether you want income now or dividend growth, and on what you already own.
Dividend ETF comparisons
Head-to-head, same formatSCHD vs VIG
The higher-yielding, more concentrated dividend fund against the cheaper, broader dividend growth fund.
Read the comparisonSCHD vs DGRO
SCHD’s dividend quality screen against DGRO’s growth and payout screen: yield, sectors and overlap.
Read the comparisonVIG vs DGRO
Two large dividend growth funds compared on yield, fees, holdings and overlap.
Read the comparisonSCHD vs VYM
A dividend quality screen against a broad high yield fund, with fees, holdings and overlap side by side.
Read the comparisonSCHD vs HDV
Two income-focused funds with different screens, compared on yield, sectors and payout pattern.
Read the comparisonSCHD vs NOBL
A quality and yield screen against long-streak dividend growers held in equal weights.
Read the comparisonVIG vs VYM
Dividend growth against high yield: what you give up in income and what you gain in breadth and cost.
Read the comparisonDGRO vs VYM
A growth and payout screen against a broad high yield fund, compared on yield, sectors and overlap.
Read the comparisonVYM vs HDV
Two high yield funds built differently, compared on holdings, concentration, payouts and fees.
Read the comparisonVIG vs HDV
A broad dividend growth fund against a concentrated high yield fund, from yield to sector tilt.
Read the comparisonDGRO vs HDV
Dividend growth against a quality-screened high yield fund, with overlap and payout pattern.
Read the comparisonVYM vs NOBL
Broad high yield against equal-weight long-streak dividend growers, compared side by side.
Read the comparisonVIG vs NOBL
Two dividend growth approaches, cap-weighted against equal-weight, compared on holdings and fees.
Read the comparisonDGRO vs NOBL
A growth and payout screen against a long-streak equal-weight index, with sectors and overlap.
Read the comparisonHDV vs NOBL
A concentrated high yield fund against equal-weight long-streak dividend growers.
Read the comparisonHow to compare high yield dividend ETFs and growth funds
A seven-point checklist- 1. Yield typeSEC yield, trailing yield and distribution rate measure different things. Compare like with like and note the date.
- 2. Total returnDividends are part of return, not all of it. Check price change plus distributions over the same periods.
- 3. CostExpense ratio is only one cost. Add the bid/ask spread and, for non-Canadian funds, currency conversion.
- 4. ConcentrationA fund with a heavy top ten behaves differently from a broad one. Check the ten largest weights.
- 5. Sector tiltDividend funds lean toward staples, health care, energy, financials or technology depending on the rules.
- 6. OverlapMany dividend ETF holdings also sit in broad index funds. Test your mix with the Diversification Calculator.
- 7. Tax and accountDistribution character and account type change what you keep. See the Canadian section below and confirm with a professional.
Start with how to build an ETF portfolio and size any dividend fund inside your whole allocation.
Yield risks to understand first
What can go wrongDividends are not guaranteed
Companies can reduce or suspend dividends, and a fund’s income falls with them. Read dividend cuts explained.
A falling price raises yield
Yield rises when a share price drops, so the highest numbers can signal trouble. See yield vs total return.
Rules shape the portfolio
Dividend screens can crowd a fund into a few sectors or names. Check the ten largest holdings and the sector mix before buying.
What is dividend yield?Dividend ETFs for Canadian investors
Currency, withholding tax and account typeU.S.-listed funds such as SCHD, VIG and DGRO trade in U.S. dollars, so buying them from a Canadian account usually means converting Canadian dollars, which adds a cost on entry and exit. Currency moves also change your return in Canadian dollars.
U.S. dividends paid to Canadian residents can be subject to U.S. withholding tax, generally 15% under the Canada–U.S. tax treaty. An RRSP is generally exempt from that withholding on U.S. dividends, while a TFSA is not. In a taxable account the withheld amount may be claimable through the foreign tax credit. Because higher-yield funds pay more in dividends, the dollar amount withheld on a given balance is larger.
This is general education, not tax advice. Confirm the rules for your situation with a cross-border tax professional.
Dividend tools
Calculate before you chooseDividend ETFs: frequently asked questions
Plain-language answersWhat is a dividend ETF?
A dividend ETF is an exchange-traded fund that holds stocks selected for the dividends they pay, or for their record of growing those dividends. The fund collects the dividends and usually pays them out to shareholders every quarter. The selection rules differ a lot between funds, which is why two dividend ETFs can have very different yields, sectors and returns.
What is the difference between dividend growth and high-dividend ETFs?
Dividend growth funds, such as VIG and DGRO, require a record of rising dividends and usually pay a lower yield today. Higher-yield and dividend quality funds, such as SCHD, screen on payout strength and financial quality and usually pay more today. Neither approach guarantees future dividends or returns.
Which dividend ETFs does Invest and Compound compare?
The current comparisons cover SCHD vs VIG, SCHD vs DGRO and VIG vs DGRO, plus SCHD vs VTI against a total-market fund. Option-income funds such as JEPQ, QQQI and SPYI have their own profiles and are a different strategy from the dividend funds above.
Is a higher dividend yield better?
Not necessarily. Yield is only one part of total return, and a very high yield can come from a falling share price or from a payout that is hard to sustain. Compare total return, fees, concentration and the quality of the underlying companies alongside yield.
How often do dividend ETFs pay?
SCHD, VIG and DGRO each pay quarterly. Many option-income ETFs pay monthly. Payment dates and amounts change, so check the fund provider for the current schedule.
Can Canadians hold U.S.-listed dividend ETFs?
Yes, but there are extra considerations. Funds such as SCHD, VIG and DGRO trade in U.S. dollars, so buying from a Canadian account usually involves currency conversion. U.S. dividends paid to Canadian residents can be subject to U.S. withholding tax, and treatment differs across RRSP, TFSA and taxable accounts. This is general education, not tax advice; confirm the rules with a cross-border tax professional.