Summit Showdown|
5 min
Updated December 2025
DGRO vs VIG: Best Dividend Growth ETF for 2026?
Comparing iShares Core Dividend Growth vs Vanguard Dividend Appreciation for long-term dividend investing.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Metric
DGRO
VIG
Expense Ratio
0.08%
0.06%
Dividend Yield
2.35%
1.78%
5Y Total Return
12.1%
13.45%
Volatility
15.8%
16.1%
Distribution
Quarterly
Quarterly
Tax Efficiency
High
High
The Verdict by Scenario
Scenario
Higher current yield
DGRO
DGRO yields 2.35% vs VIG's 1.78%, delivering 30% more income on the same investment today.
Scenario
Longest dividend growth track record
VIG
VIG requires 10+ consecutive years of dividend increases; DGRO only requires 5 years, making VIG more selective.
Scenario
Overall quality
🤝Tie
Both focus on dividend growth over yield-chasing. The small differences make either an excellent core holding.
In This Showdown
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LaunchSection 1Dividend Growth Philosophy
DGRO and VIG share the same philosophy: own companies that consistently raise dividends rather than chasing the highest yields. This approach tends to favor quality companies with sustainable payouts. The key difference is selection criteria, VIG requires 10 years of dividend growth, DGRO requires only 5 years plus quality screens.
Section 2DGRO: Flexible Dividend Growth
DGRO's 5-year dividend growth requirement allows it to capture younger dividend growers and tech companies that recently started paying dividends. It also screens for payout ratio and ROE, adding quality filters. The result is higher yield than VIG with exposure to more growth-oriented dividend payers.
Section 3VIG: The Blue-Chip Approach
VIG's strict 10-year requirement filters for proven dividend aristocrats with long track records. You get Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble, companies that maintained dividends through multiple recessions. Lower yield, but arguably more reliable dividend growth trajectory.
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Updated December 2025