SmarterDividends

HDV vs VTV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 7, 2026, HDV yields more: 3.16% (dividend yield) against 1.87% for VTV. VTV is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 0.08%. Over the same 15 years (Mar 2011 to Oct 2026), VTV returned 12.1% a year with distributions reinvested, and HDV 11.3%.

ComparedHDVVTV
YieldDividend yield3.16%1.87%
Expense ratio0.08%0.03%
Total return, 1 yr+34.8%+25.3%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+21.7%+22.0%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+13.6%+12.4%
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+10.9%+13.0%
Worst drop since Mar 2011-26.0%-25.0%
Share price since Mar 2011+206%+302%
PaysMonthlyQuarterly
IssueriSharesVanguard
Assets$16.3B$266.9B
Started20112004
TypeLarge ValueLarge Value

Higher yield

HDV

3.16%

Lower cost

VTV

0.03%

Better total return

VTV

12.1%/yr

Smaller worst drop

VTV

-25.0%

Key facts: HDV vs VTV

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 7, 2026, HDV yields 3.16% (dividend yield) and VTV yields 1.87% (dividend yield).
  • HDV's expense ratio is 0.08% and VTV's is 0.03%: $8 vs $3 a year on $10,000.
  • From Mar 2011 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in HDV grew to $53,060 (11.3% a year) and $10,000 in VTV to $59,411 (12.1% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -26.0% for HDV and -25.0% for VTV.
  • 3 of HDV's top ten holdings are also in VTV's top ten, an overlap of at least 6% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "HDV vs VTV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 7, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/hdv-vs-vtv

$10,000 in each, Mar 2011 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

HDV became

$53,060

11.3% a year

VTV became

$59,411

12.1% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearHDVVTV
2025+11.9%+15.3%
2024+14.2%+15.9%
2023+1.7%+9.3%
2022+7.0%−2.1%
2021+19.6%+26.5%
2020−6.5%+2.3%
2019+20.2%+25.7%
2018−3.0%−5.5%
2017+13.3%+17.1%
2016+15.8%+17.1%
2015−0.3%−1.0%
2014+12.6%+13.2%
2013+23.7%+33.1%
2012+9.6%+15.2%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

3 of the top ten overlap, at least 6% of each fund.

HDV

  1. XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp9.6%
  2. CVX Chevron Corp7.3%
  3. ABBV AbbVie Inc6.8%
  4. PG Procter & Gamble Co5.4%
  5. VZ Verizon Communications Inc5.1%
  6. PM Philip Morris International Inc5.1%
  7. HD The Home Depot Inc4.6%
  8. KO Coca-Cola Co4.3%
  9. PEP PepsiCo Inc3.9%
  10. MO Altria Group Inc3.9%

VTV

  1. MU Micron Technology Inc4.6%
  2. JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co3.3%
  3. BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B2.9%
  4. XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.6%
  5. JNJ Johnson & Johnson2.4%
  6. ABBV AbbVie Inc1.8%
  7. WMT Walmart Inc1.7%
  8. CVX Chevron Corp1.5%
  9. CSCO Cisco Systems Inc1.4%
  10. CAT Caterpillar Inc1.4%

HDV vs VTV: questions

Is HDV or VTV better?

It depends on the job. HDV pays more today (3.16% vs 1.87%), VTV costs less, and VTV has the better total return over Mar 2011 to Oct 2026, with VTV holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, HDV or VTV?

HDV, at 3.16% against 1.87% for VTV as of Nov 7, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $316 vs $187 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

VTV. From Mar 2011 to Oct 2026, it returned 12.1% a year with distributions reinvested, against 11.3% for HDV. $10,000 became $59,411 vs $53,060.

Which is cheaper, HDV or VTV?

VTV, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 0.08%.

Do HDV and VTV hold the same things?

Partly. 3 of their top ten holdings match (XOM, ABBV, CVX), at least 6% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

Related comparisons

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. VTV leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 7, 2026.