# How Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/vig
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on VIG alone. It places VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where VIG stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: VIG's full trading record, from May 2006 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

## Key findings

- **Right now:** Over the past 6 months, VIG rose 7.8% against 9.1% for the S&P 500 and 11.2% for the Nasdaq 100. That said, VIG sits 1.1% below its record high, and the S&P 500 is similarly close to its own.
- **Fund or market?:** VIG rose 3.4% over the past 3 months, in line with the US dividend equity ETF VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF), which rose 1.7%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Last month cut against the tape: VIG rose 2.4% while the S&P 500 fell 0.6%.
- **Long term:** VIG turned $10,000 into $35,800 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. That said, its 10-year return of 258% puts it ahead of 84% of the ETFs with at least $100 million in assets with that much history. The S&P 500 returned 321%.
- **In a crash:** VIG fell less than the S&P 500 in four of the last four sell-offs, including the 2022 bear market (20.4% against 24.5%). In the 2022 bear market, VIG fell 20.4%, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. That was more than SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, 16.9%) but less than RDVY (First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, 25.3%).
- **Diversification:** VIG is more of the same, not a cushion: a correlation of 0.93 with the S&P 500 over 5 years and 0.93 with the total US market, more closely than 88% of ETFs with at least $100 million in assets. When the S&P 500 had a down month, VIG usually fell with it (19 of 22 months).
- **Better options**
  - **Popular alternatives:** HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF) and DLN (WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund) earned more than VIG with less volatility over the past 5 years. HDV returned 12.9% a year at 13.0% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%.
  - **Nearby categories and themes:** FNDX (Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF, US large-cap value) and FDL (First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, US dividend equity) earned more than VIG over the past 5 years with similar volatility: FNDX returned 13.5% a year at 14.9% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%.
  - **Whole market:** Few investments have done better on both counts: only six of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than VIG with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF), DLN (WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund) and LVHI (Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF).

## How much would $10,000 in VIG have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in VIG over the past 20 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of VIG over the same span and VIG's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period.

- $10,000 invested in VIG at the end of September 2006 would have grown to $67,805 by September 2026, less than the $82,294 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of VIG, and NVDA finished highest, at $5,084,012.

## VIG at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the fund, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout.

- VIG's deepest decline since it began trading in 2006 was 46.8%, from October 2007 to March 2009. It took 23 months from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 19 full calendar years, VIG's best was 2019, when it returned 29.6%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 26.7%. It lost money in four of those years.
- VIG is 1.1% below its all-time high.

- Type: ETF, Dividend & Income (Asset Management)
- Trading since: May 2, 2006
- Assets: $128B
- Expense ratio: 0.04%
- Volatility (5 years): 14.1%; Sharpe ratio: 0.78
- Worst decline ever: −46.8%, from October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009; back at its high by February 14, 2011

| Period | VIG total return |
| --- | --- |
| 1 month | +2.4% |
| 3 months | +3.4% |
| 6 months | +7.8% |
| year to date | +11.5% |
| 1 year | +13.7% |
| 3 years | +67.0% |
| 5 years | +64.0% |
| 10 years | +258% |

## VIG against the whole market

Where VIG ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

### How does VIG rank among all ETFs?

This section ranks VIG on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every ETF worth at least $100 million with enough history.

- VIG's 10-year return ranks in the top 16% of the 958 ETFs with at least $100 million in assets with 10 years of history.

| Measure | VIG | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year return | +13.7% | 954 of 2,485 (top 39%) |
| 3-year return | +67.0% | 838 of 1,949 (top 43%) |
| 5-year return | +64.0% | 469 of 1,560 (top 31%) |
| 10-year return | +258% | 153 of 958 (top 16%) |
| Volatility, 5 years | 14.1% | 556 of 1,560 (top 36%) |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.78 | 382 of 1,560 (top 25%) |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −31.7% | 221 of 951 (top 24%) |

### What has beaten VIG on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer).

- Six ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than VIG over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is fewer than 1% of the 3,633 screened. Few investments beat it on both counts.
- Among those with at least half VIG's swings, LVHI has the best return for its risk: 17.0% a year at 11.1% volatility, 22% less than VIG's 14.1%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.48 against 0.78 for VIG.
- Among VIG's popular alternatives, HDV and DLN are in the region. HDV earned 12.9% a year against 10.4% a year for VIG, at 13.0% volatility, 8% less than VIG's 14.1%.

### Is there a better investment than VIG?

The table below lists investments that beat VIG over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes, and, for funds, the same exposure at a lower expense ratio.

- Among VIG's popular alternatives, HDV and DLN earned more than VIG with less volatility over the past 5 years. HDV returned 12.9% a year at 13.0% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, FNDX (US large-cap value) and FDL (US dividend equity) earned more than VIG over the past 5 years with similar volatility: FNDX returned 13.5% a year at 14.9% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%.
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only six of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than VIG with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them HDV, DLN and LVHI.

The 6 strongest of 6 investments that beat VIG over the past 5 years, out of 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million.

| Investment | Group | Annual return (5 years) | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline (10 years) | 10Y return | Correlation with VIG | Better on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VIG: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (this page) |  | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.78 | −31.7% | +258% |  |  |
| SIXA: ETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF | Broad Market | +12.8% | 12.7% | 1.01 | −18.4% | — | 0.92 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| LVHI: Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | International Equity | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.69 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher return in most periods |
| FJUL: FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July | Multi-Asset | +11.5% | 10.9% | 1.06 | −13.1% | — | 0.92 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | US Dividend Equity | +12.9% | 13.0% | 1.00 | −37.0% | +172% | 0.77 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher return in most periods |
| DJD: Invesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF | Dividend & Income | +11.8% | 13.3% | 0.91 | −34.7% | +227% | 0.89 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher return in most periods |
| DLN: WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | US Dividend Equity | +12.2% | 13.2% | 0.95 | −35.8% | +231% | 0.97 | Higher return, lower volatility |

## VIG against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against VIG, compared period by period and year by year.

### How do VIG's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings.

- Nine of the 25 popular alternatives, led by HDV, DLN and VTV, were both more rewarding and calmer than VIG over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, VIG returned 10.4% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with lower volatility (14.1% against 17.1%).

### Has VIG consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares VIG with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years.

- Five of the 25 popular alternatives, led by QUAL, DGRO and HDV, outperformed VIG in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- QUAL outperformed VIG in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- DIVO earned more for the risk it took than VIG (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in its worst decline of the past 10 years.

| Investment | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return | 10Y return | Periods ahead of VIG | Verdict | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VIG: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (this page) | +13.7% | +67.0% | +64.0% | +258% |  |  | 0.78 |
| [QUAL](https://easycompare.io/research/qual): iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | +16.4% | +76.9% | +71.5% | +293% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.71 |
| [DGRO](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | +267% | 3/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | consistent | 0.83 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | +26.8% | +71.8% | +83.3% | +172% | 5/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 1.00 |
| DIVB: iShares Core Dividend ETF | +37.0% | +107% | +92.0% | — | 5/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.93 |
| [VTV](https://easycompare.io/research/vtv): Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF | +22.5% | +77.9% | +76.6% | +235% | 4/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.90 |
| RDVY: First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | +20.0% | +87.7% | +71.0% | +322% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.67 |
| DLN: WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | +16.9% | +75.2% | +78.2% | +231% | 2/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.95 |
| DTD: WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend Fund | +16.6% | +73.0% | +74.7% | +217% | 2/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.90 |
| [VYM](https://easycompare.io/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | +208% | 2/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.85 |
| DHS: WisdomTree U.S. High Dividend Fund | +19.9% | +70.3% | +76.2% | +156% | 2/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.89 |
| DGRW: WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | +12.8% | +65.2% | +74.6% | +276% | 1/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.87 |
| FDVV: Fidelity High Dividend ETF | +13.7% | +78.5% | +85.9% | +253% | 0/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.92 |
| DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF | +16.9% | +69.9% | +58.4% | +172% | 2/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.69 |
| DIVO: Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | +14.6% | +63.4% | +69.0% | — | 2/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.95 |
| [SCHD](https://easycompare.io/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 5/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.72 |
| USMV: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | +9.7% | +49.7% | +44.4% | +176% | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.66 |
| SDY: State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | +14.3% | +51.0% | +44.0% | +157% | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.59 |
| PEY: Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF | +17.7% | +48.2% | +43.0% | +134% | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.52 |
| DGRS: WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Quality Dividend Growth Fund | +16.3% | +56.0% | +40.4% | +139% | 2/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.44 |
| NOBL: ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | +14.1% | +43.3% | +37.3% | +172% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.51 |
| FVD: First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund | +10.2% | +45.3% | +34.3% | +134% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.53 |
| SPYD: State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | +14.1% | +61.6% | +44.4% | +125% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.54 |
| VIGI: Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF | +9.0% | +48.4% | +26.7% | +122% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.40 |
| SPHD: Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF | +9.2% | +51.0% | +42.3% | +103% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.57 |
| [BND](https://easycompare.io/research/bnd): Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | −2.1% | +15.7% | −1.8% | +13.2% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.03 |

### How did VIG do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2007, along with where VIG ranked among its popular alternatives each year.

- VIG finished ahead of the S&P 500 in four of its 19 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, VIG finished in the top quarter in seven of 19 years and in the bottom quarter in four. In 2025, it ranked 11 of 26.
- Among its popular alternatives, FDVV came out ahead of VIG most often, in six of the nine years both traded.

| Year | VIG | SPY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2025 | +14.2% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +17.0% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +14.5% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −9.8% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +23.8% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +15.4% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +29.6% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −2.1% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +22.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +12.0% | +12.0% |

## Risk and diversification

How VIG has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

### What were VIG's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high.

- In all five of VIG's worst declines, it fell less than the S&P 500 did over the same dates.
- The longest climb back to a previous high took 23 months, after VIG fell 46.8% from October 2007 to March 2009.

| Decline | Peak | Low | Back at the high | SPY over the same dates | Market event |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| −46.8% | October 9, 2007 | March 9, 2009 | February 14, 2011 | −55.2% | 2008 financial crisis |
| −31.7% | February 14, 2020 | March 23, 2020 | August 26, 2020 | −33.6% | Covid crash |
| −20.4% | January 4, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | December 11, 2023 | −24.3% | 2022 bear market |
| −17.3% | September 21, 2018 | December 24, 2018 | April 5, 2019 | −19.3% | late-2018 sell-off |
| −16.9% | July 7, 2011 | October 3, 2011 | February 3, 2012 | −18.4% | 2011 euro debt crisis |

### How did VIG do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far VIG, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000.

- VIG fell less than the S&P 500 in six of the nine crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when VIG fell 46.8% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
- Among its popular alternatives, BND held up best, falling less than VIG in all nine crashes they both traded through.

| Crash | Dates | VIG fall | SPY fall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dot-com bust | March 10, 2000 to October 9, 2002 | not trading | −47.5% |
| Global financial crisis | October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 | −46.8% | −55.2% |
| Flash crash | May 6, 2010 to May 7, 2010 | −1.4% | −1.5% |
| Euro debt crisis | July 22, 2011 to October 3, 2011 | −15.6% | −17.9% |
| China devaluation & oil rout | August 10, 2015 to February 11, 2016 | −10.1% | −12.8% |
| Volmageddon | February 2, 2018 to February 9, 2018 | −6.3% | −6.5% |
| Q4 2018 selloff | September 21, 2018 to December 24, 2018 | −17.3% | −19.3% |
| COVID crash | February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020 | −31.6% | −33.7% |
| 2022 bear market | January 4, 2022 to October 12, 2022 | −20.4% | −24.5% |
| SVB / regional bank stress | March 8, 2023 to March 13, 2023 | −3.1% | −3.4% |

### How closely does VIG move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell.

- None of the 23 popular alternatives with the same record had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than VIG's 0.99.
- USMV took just 75% of the S&P 500's losses, against 86% for VIG, while still keeping 70% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, VIG captured 85% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 86% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.84. It took about the same share of the market's gains as of its losses.

Measured over the past 10 years of monthly returns against SPY.

| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Beta |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VIG: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (this page) | 85.0% | 86.0% | 0.84 |
| [QUAL](https://easycompare.io/research/qual): iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 98.0% | 102% | 1.00 |
| [DGRO](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 88.0% | 90.0% | 0.86 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 71.0% | 80.0% | 0.71 |
| [VTV](https://easycompare.io/research/vtv): Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF | 86.0% | 91.0% | 0.86 |
| RDVY: First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | 107% | 112% | 1.10 |
| DLN: WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund | 85.0% | 89.0% | 0.85 |
| DTD: WisdomTree U.S. Total Dividend Fund | 85.0% | 92.0% | 0.87 |
| [VYM](https://easycompare.io/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 81.0% | 88.0% | 0.82 |
| DHS: WisdomTree U.S. High Dividend Fund | 71.0% | 81.0% | 0.74 |
| DGRW: WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 91.0% | 93.0% | 0.88 |
| FDVV: Fidelity High Dividend ETF | 92.0% | 98.0% | 0.95 |
| DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF | 76.0% | 88.0% | 0.81 |
| [SCHD](https://easycompare.io/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 86.0% | 91.0% | 0.82 |
| USMV: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 70.0% | 75.0% | 0.70 |
| SDY: State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | 75.0% | 91.0% | 0.80 |
| PEY: Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF | 74.0% | 93.0% | 0.83 |
| DGRS: WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 91.0% | 122% | 1.09 |
| NOBL: ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | 80.0% | 97.0% | 0.84 |
| FVD: First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund | 68.0% | 82.0% | 0.72 |
| SPYD: State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | 78.0% | 103% | 0.91 |
| VIGI: Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF | 70.0% | 88.0% | 0.73 |
| SPHD: Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF | 67.0% | 90.0% | 0.78 |
| [BND](https://easycompare.io/research/bnd): Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 13.0% | 19.0% | 0.15 |

### What diversifies VIG?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions).

- Moving a fifth of the money in VIG into DBMF would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 22% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+10.7% for VIG alone, +11.0% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, GLD, XLE and DBMF have moved largely independently of VIG over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.39 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- Among large stocks, CAH, CLS and MCK have moved largely independently of VIG over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.42 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.

| Investment | Correlation with VIG | 5Y return | Volatility | Sharpe | Rose in VIG's 4 down years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | 0.22 | +126% | 18.9% | 0.96 | 1 of 4 |
| [XLE](https://easycompare.io/research/xle): State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.39 | +177% | 25.5% | 0.93 | 1 of 4 |
| DBMF: iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF | -0.23 | +59.7% | 12.4% | 0.82 | 1 of 4 |
| DBA: Invesco DB Agriculture Fund | 0.21 | +66.4% | 13.8% | 0.81 | 1 of 4 |
| GDX: VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 0.35 | +181% | 38.2% | 0.73 | 0 of 4 |
| USO: United States Oil Fund, LP | -0.01 | +176% | 37.7% | 0.73 | 1 of 4 |
| FLSP: Franklin Systematic Style Premia ETF | 0.11 | +49.8% | 13.4% | 0.68 | 1 of 4 |
| PDBC: Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF | 0.12 | +73.9% | 19.3% | 0.67 | 1 of 4 |

## Common questions

### What was VIG's worst drawdown?

VIG's deepest decline since it began trading in 2006 was 46.8%, from October 2007 to March 2009. It took 23 months from the low to climb back to its old high. Because VIG launched in May 2006, that record does not include the dot-com bust.

### What were VIG's best and worst years?

Over 19 full calendar years, VIG's best year was 2019, when it returned 29.6%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -26.7%.

### Is there a better investment than VIG?

Among VIG's popular alternatives, HDV and DLN earned more than VIG with less volatility over the past 5 years. HDV returned 12.9% a year at 13.0% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, FNDX (US large-cap value) and FDL (US dividend equity) earned more than VIG over the past 5 years with similar volatility: FNDX returned 13.5% a year at 14.9% volatility, against 10.4% a year at 14.1%.

### Is VIG more volatile than the S&P 500?

No. VIG's volatility over the past 5 years was 14.1%, 82% of the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, VIG's return lands within 14.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

### What is VIG's Sharpe ratio?

VIG's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.78, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so VIG earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

### How correlated is VIG with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, VIG's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.93 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They move almost in lockstep, so holding both adds little diversification. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against VIG instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a VIG holding.

### What are the best alternatives to VIG?

Of the 25 popular alternatives we compared, five outperformed VIG in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: QUAL, DGRO and HDV.

### Did VIG outperform the S&P 500?

VIG finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in four of 19 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +14.2%, against +17.7% for the index.

### How did VIG do in stock market crashes?

VIG fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in six of the nine major crashes it has traded through, and further in no. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when VIG fell 46.8% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.

### What diversifies VIG?

These had a low correlation with VIG over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, GLD (correlation 0.22), XLE (correlation 0.39) and DBMF (correlation -0.23); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.42), CLS (correlation 0.40) and MCK (correlation 0.32). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

## More research

- [iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/qual)
- [iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro)
- [Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF (VTV) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/vtv)
- [Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/vym)
- [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/schd)
- [Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/bnd)
- [NVIDIA (NVDA) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/nvda)
- [Apple (AAPL) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/aapl)
- [Alphabet (GOOG) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/goog)
- [Microsoft (MSFT) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/msft)
- [Amazon.com (AMZN) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/amzn)
- [Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) Performance, Alternatives and Market Rank](https://easycompare.io/research/vti)

## Explore further

- Full page with charts: https://easycompare.io/research/vig
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt
- Compare the entire market against VIG live: https://betterthanspy.com/?b=VIG&utm_source=easycompare&utm_medium=research