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VYM Dividend Calculator: Project Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF Income

VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, holding hundreds of U.S. companies forecast to pay above-average dividends. The broad reach is the point: it is a diversified yield core rather than a concentrated bet on one sector or theme.

Its yield sits in the middle of the dividend ETF range — higher than broad-market funds, lower than covered-call income strategies — and distributions arrive quarterly.

Use this calculator to project VYM income from a lump sum or monthly contributions, with reinvestment on or off, or solve backwards from an income target.

Run VYM in the calculatorCompare VYM vs others

Data as of September 27, 2026 · Sources: Yahoo Finance and fund fact sheets.

Share price
$157.68
Dividend yield (TTM)
2.22%
Expense ratio
0.04%
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
TTM distributions / share
$3.68
Assets under management
$100.8B
How much VYM do you need for your income goal?

Capital required at the current 2.22% yield, before taxes and before accounting for future dividend growth or reinvestment.

Monthly incomeAnnual incomeCapital requiredApprox. shares
$500/month$6.0K$270.3K1,715
$1,000/month$12.0K$540.5K3,429
$2,000/month$24.0K$1.1M6,857
$3,000/month$36.0K$1.6M10,285
$5,000/month$60.0K$2.7M17,141
$10,000/month$120.0K$5.4M34,281

Estimates only. Yield, share price, and distributions change over time. Use the full calculator to model monthly contributions, dividend growth, taxes, and reinvestment.

How long to reach your VYM income goal?

Years until projected dividend income first reaches each target, starting from zero with every distribution reinvested. Assumes today's 2.22% yield and dividend growth consistent with the fund's record; taxes and withdrawals are excluded.

Monthly contribution$500/month$1,000/month$2,000/month$5,000/month
$250/month16 yr20 yr24 yr28 yr
$500/month13 yr16 yr20 yr25 yr
$1,000/month10 yr13 yr16 yr21 yr

Projections assume a constant yield, dividend growth consistent with the holding's recent record, no price changes beyond its recent trend, and full reinvestment. Actual results will differ. Dividend income is shown before taxes.

Who VYM is for
  • Investors who want above-average income with broad diversification
  • A low-fee core holding for income-oriented portfolios
  • Pairing with growth funds to balance yield and total return
  • Investors who prefer hundreds of holdings over concentrated bets
Trade-offs to understand
  • Moderate yield compared with covered-call or high-yield strategies
  • Sector weights tilt toward financials, energy, and healthcare
  • Quarterly distributions only

About 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.

VYM key facts
MetricValue
Fund nameVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
IssuerVanguard
CategoryHigh Dividend Yield
Inception date2006-11-10
Share price$157.68
NAV$157.69
Dividend yield (TTM)2.22%
Expense ratio0.04%
Distribution frequencyQuarterly
Assets under management$100.8B
1-year return11.32%
5-year return (annualized)11.92%
3-year beta0.66

Historical returns are not a forecast. Figures shown are the latest available and may differ slightly from issuer fact sheets.

VYM dividend history and payout schedule
TTM / share
$3.68
Yield (TTM)
2.22%
Annual growth
3.4%
Pays in
March, June, September, December
Payment datePer share
September 18, 2026$0.89
June 18, 2026$0.98
March 20, 2026$0.86
December 19, 2025$0.95
September 19, 2025$0.84
June 20, 2025$0.86
March 21, 2025$0.85
December 20, 2024$0.96

Annual growth compares the latest twelve months of distributions with the twelve months ending four years earlier and is not a forecast. Past distributions can be reduced or suspended.

Top holdings

The largest positions in VYM, by portfolio weight.

  • AVGOBroadcom Inc6.93%
  • JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co3.83%
  • XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.69%
  • JNJJohnson & Johnson2.58%
  • ABBVAbbVie Inc1.83%
  • CSCOCisco Systems Inc1.76%
  • BACBank of America Corp1.65%
  • CVXChevron Corp1.54%
Sector allocation

Sector exposure reported by the fund provider.

  • Financials21.50%
  • Health Care13.80%
  • Consumer Staples12.60%
  • Industrials11.40%
  • Energy9.80%
  • Information Tech9.10%
VYM frequently asked questions

VYM yields about 2.22% per year on a trailing basis at $157.68 per share. Its index targets companies with above-average forecast yields, so the yield is typically higher than an S&P 500 fund but below covered-call strategies.

At a 2.22% yield, generating $12,000 per year requires roughly $540.5K invested, or about 3,429 shares at $157.68. Regular contributions and reinvestment lower the upfront capital needed.

VYM distributes quarterly, recently in March, June, September, December. The trailing twelve-month distribution totals about $3.68 per share. Most brokers support automatic reinvestment.

VYM casts a wider net across several hundred high-yield names, while SCHD runs a 100-stock quality screen with a dividend-growth requirement. VYM has historically offered a somewhat broader, more yield-tilted exposure; SCHD leans toward dividend growth. Compare them side by side for current numbers.

VYM's distributions are predominantly qualified dividends, generally taxed at long-term capital gains rates in taxable accounts. In an IRA or Roth, that annual tax drag is removed. Confirm your own situation with a tax professional.

Comparing the latest twelve months of distributions with the twelve months ending four years earlier, VYM's per-share payout has changed by roughly 3.4% per year. High-yield portfolios do not always grow payouts as quickly as dedicated dividend-growth funds.

Investing $500 a month with all distributions reinvested, VYM's projected dividend income reaches $1,000 a month in about 16 years. By then you would have contributed roughly $96.0K and the projected portfolio value would be about $308.5K. This assumes today's 2.22% yield and the growth assumptions shown in the calculator, with no taxes or withdrawals — projections, not guarantees.
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Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or tax advice. Fund data is sourced from Yahoo Finance and issuer fact sheets and may be delayed or contain errors. Dividend yields and distributions are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified advisor before making investment decisions.