VYM: Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF returns, drawdowns and risk
Funds that select companies by dividend yield or by a record of growing dividends.
Data updated October 2026
VYM · US exchange · USDCategory: Dividend ETFsData from June 2020
From June 2020 to October 2026 VYM returned 14.6% a year on average with dividends reinvested, in US dollars: $10,000 invested at the start grew to $23,820.
Its deepest fall was 15.8%, from April 2022 to September 2022, and it took about 7 months to get back to the previous high. Annual volatility was 14.3%; at the last close it was 4.0% below its high.
Against SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust), over the 76 months both have data, the correlation of monthly returns was 0.83: they usually moved together. Beta was 0.75. In months when SPY rose, VYM moved 83% as much on average; in months when SPY fell, 77% as much.
Key figures
- Annual return (CAGR)
- +14.6%
- 1-year return
- +16.6%
- 5 years, a year
- +11.3%
- 10 years, a year
- —
- Annual volatility
- 14.3%
- Maximum drawdown
- −15.8%
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.83
- Worst year
- 2022: −0.4%
Trailing returns
| Period | VYM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +16.6% | +16.6% |
| 3 years, a year | +19.2% | +23.1% |
| 5 years, a year | +11.3% | +12.7% |
To the last close of October 2026. Periods longer than a year are annualised.
Growth of $10,000: VYM vs SPY
Month-end values from July 2020, the first month both funds have data.
VYM drawdowns
Percentage below the previous high, weekly.
Returns by calendar year
| Year | VYM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2026(partial) | +13.1% | +13.3% |
| 2025 | +15.4% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +17.6% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +6.6% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −0.4% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +26.2% | +28.7% |
| 2020(partial) | +15.9% | — |
VYM compared
How the figures are calculated
Total return in the fund’s trading currency, from end-of-day prices with dividends reinvested on the ex-date. The fund’s own ongoing charges are already reflected in its price; trading costs, taxes and currency conversion are not included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Sharpe ratio uses the return of short-term government bills in the same currency as the risk-free rate. The growth chart uses month-end values; drawdowns and volatility use daily closes.
Questions
What is the average annual return of VYM?
From June 2020 to October 2026 VYM returned 14.6% a year on average (CAGR) with dividends reinvested, in USD. Over the last 5 years: +11.3% a year. Over the last 12 months: +16.6%.
What was the worst drawdown of VYM?
15.8%, from April 2022 to September 2022; it took about 7 months from the previous high to get back to it.
How volatile is VYM?
Annual volatility was 14.3% over the period. Its worst month was −7.9% and 61% of months were positive. Worst calendar year: 2022 (−0.4%).
How closely does VYM follow SPY?
Over 76 months the correlation of monthly returns was 0.83, so they usually moved together, with a beta of 0.75.
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Other Dividend ETFs
- All Dividend ETFsReturns and risk side by side
- VIG — Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETFCAGR +13.8%
- DGRO — iShares Core Dividend Growth ETFCAGR +12.4%
- VHYL — Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF (Dist)CAGR +7.8%
- NOBL — ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETFCAGR +9.3%
- HDV — iShares Core High Dividend ETFCAGR +8.0%
- DVY — iShares Select Dividend ETFCAGR +8.1%
- SPYD — SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETFCAGR +13.1%
- SDY — SPDR S&P Dividend ETFCAGR +8.6%
- TDIV — VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders UCITS ETFCAGR +9.6%
Source: MarketStack end-of-day prices, total return with dividends reinvested. Figures are historical and descriptive; they are not forecasts and not investment advice. MEDGE Capital does not recommend buying or selling any instrument. Risk disclaimer.