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ETF Comparison

VYM vs HDV: Broad High Yield or Quality High Yield?

Vanguard's broad VYM holds 400+ names; iShares' HDV holds 75 quality-screened names. Compare yield, expense, sector tilt, and which suits your risk tolerance.

Data as of April 27, 2026

VYM

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

Vanguard

High Dividend Yield

Price

$154.95

Yield (TTM)

2.41%

HDV

iShares Core High Dividend ETF

BlackRock

High Dividend Yield

Price

$134.02

Yield (TTM)

2.92%

Quick Comparison Summary

VYM vs HDV: compare dividend yield (2.4% vs 2.9%), expense ratio (0.04% vs 0.08%), holdings, returns, and our verdict for dividend investors.

Side-by-Side Metrics
MetricVYMHDV
IssuerVanguardBlackRock
Inception2006-11-102011-03-29
CategoryHigh Dividend YieldHigh Dividend Yield
Price$154.95$134.02
NAV$154.96$134.05
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.41%2.92%
Expense Ratio0.04%0.08%
Distribution FrequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
AUM$76.7B$13.3B
Total Returns

3Y and 5Y figures are annualized. A 0% value indicates the fund had not been listed for the full period.

Holdings & Sector Exposure

VYM

Top 5 / 5 shown

  • JPM

    JPMorgan Chase

    3.92%

  • AVGO

    Broadcom

    3.41%

  • XOM

    ExxonMobil

    3.05%

  • JNJ

    Johnson & Johnson

    2.48%

  • PG

    Procter & Gamble

    2.31%

Sector Weights

  • Financials21.5%
  • Health Care13.8%
  • Consumer Staples12.6%
  • Industrials11.4%
  • Energy9.8%
  • Information Tech9.1%

HDV

Top 5 / 5 shown

  • XOM

    ExxonMobil

    8.92%

  • JNJ

    Johnson & Johnson

    6.81%

  • CVX

    Chevron

    5.95%

  • ABBV

    AbbVie

    5.14%

  • VZ

    Verizon

    4.42%

Sector Weights

  • Energy22.8%
  • Health Care19.4%
  • Consumer Staples17.1%
  • Communication9.8%
  • Industrials8.6%
  • Financials7.2%

Pros & Cons

VYMPros
  • 400+ holdings — exceptional diversification
  • Lower 0.06% expense ratio
  • Larger AUM, tighter spreads
HDVPros
  • Higher yield (~2.9%)
  • Morningstar quality + moat screens
  • More defensive (energy, staples, healthcare heavy)
VYMCons
  • Lower yield (~2.4% vs ~2.9%)
  • No quality screens — includes some yield traps
  • Less defensive tilt
HDVCons
  • Concentrated (75 holdings)
  • Slightly higher 0.08% expense ratio
  • Heavy energy weighting can underperform in transitions
The Verdict

VYM offers diversified high-yield exposure; HDV offers concentrated quality high-yield. VYM is cheaper at 0.04% versus HDV's 0.08%, while HDV currently offers a modestly higher yield. HDV is much more concentrated in energy and consumer staples (Exxon, Johnson & Johnson, Chevron at top weights), while VYM spreads bets across 400+ names. HDV's quality screens make it less prone to yield traps; VYM's diversification makes it less prone to single-name disappointments.

Best for
VYM

Investors who want the broadest possible high-yield U.S. equity exposure

Best for
HDV

Investors who prefer concentrated quality with moat-screened holdings

Strategy Summary

VYM

Tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index — U.S. stocks with above-average forecast dividend yields, excluding REITs. Broad, market-cap-weighted exposure for low-cost income.

HDV

Tracks the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index — 75 high-quality U.S. stocks with sustainable competitive advantages, screened by Morningstar's economic-moat and distance-to-default metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or tax advice. ETF data is sourced from issuer fact sheets and may be slightly out of date. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.