What is the expense ratio of DGRO vs VIG?

DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08%, while VIG has an expense ratio of 0.04%.

DGRO vs VIG

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF vs Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares

Last updated: 2026-04-02

DGRO iShares

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.10%. Launched in 2014, the fund has a 12-year track record.

AUM: $36.8B ER: 0.08% Yield: 2.10% Since: Jun 10, 2014

VIG Vanguard

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares (VIG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.60%. Launched in 2006, the fund has a 20-year track record.

AUM: $97.2B ER: 0.04% Yield: 1.60% Since: Apr 21, 2006

Quick Verdict

VIG has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.04% vs 0.08%), saving about $80 per $10,000 over 10 years. DGRO has edged ahead over the past year (13.9% vs 11.4%).

Key Metrics

Metric	DGRO	VIG
Expense Ratio	0.08%	0.04%
Dividend Yield	2.1%	1.6%
Fund Family	iShares	Vanguard
Category	US Dividend	US Dividend

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

DGRO +42.9%

VIG +43.7%

Performance Comparison

Period	DGRO	VIG	Difference
1 Month	-4.90%	-5.05%	+0.15%
3 Months	+0.57%	-2.23%	+2.80%
6 Months	+2.36%	-0.97%	+3.33%
YTD	+0.57%	-2.23%	+2.80%
1 Year	+13.94%	+11.38%	+2.56%
3 Years	+39.53%	+39.10%	+0.43%
5 Years	+42.86%	+43.71%	-0.85%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment	Period	DGRO Fees	VIG Fees	You Save
$10.000	10 years	$159	$80	$80
$10.000	20 years	$686	$344	$342
$10.000	30 years	$2.212	$1.112	$1.100
$50.000	10 years	$797	$399	$398
$50.000	30 years	$11.061	$5.560	$5.501
$100.000	30 years	$22.123	$11.121	$11.002

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric	DGRO	VIG
Annualized Volatility	13.9%	14.3%
Max Drawdown	-20.7%	-21.5%
Sharpe Ratio	0.26	0.27

Dividend Comparison

Metric	DGRO	VIG
Annual Dividend (per share)	$1.47	$3.45
Dividend Yield	2.10%	1.60%
Distribution Frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly

Top Holdings

6 of top 10 holdings overlap (60% overlap in top holdings)

DGRO Top Holdings

Name	Weight
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM	3.43%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ	2.94%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM	2.93%
Apple Inc.AAPL	2.87%
Microsoft CorporationMSFT	2.71%
AbbVie Inc.ABBV	2.67%
Broadcom Inc.AVGO	2.49%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG	2.14%
Philip Morris International Inc.PM	2.05%
Merck & Co., Inc.MRK	2.05%

VIG Top Holdings

Name	Weight
Broadcom Inc.AVGO	5.92%
Apple Inc.AAPL	3.89%
Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY	3.70%
Microsoft CorporationMSFT	3.45%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM	3.42%
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM	2.87%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ	2.65%
Walmart Inc.WMT	2.48%
Visa Inc.V	2.23%
Costco Wholesale CorporationCOST	1.98%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose VIG if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose DGRO if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose DGRO if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

Either works if...

you just need broad us dividend exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.

Related Comparisons

AGG vs DGRO AGG vs VIG BND vs VIG BNDX vs VIG DGRO vs DIVO DGRO vs DVY DGRO vs EEM DGRO vs EFA