SmarterDividends
VPU

VPU Dividend Yield

Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares · Utilities · Vanguard · ETF · quarterly payer

As of Nov 5, 2026, VPU (Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares) yields 2.78%, paying $4.35 a share a year in quarterly distributions at its $187.04 price. It costs 0.09% a year and manages $9.9B. Over the last 5 years it returned 8.3% a year with distributions reinvested, against 12.0% for the S&P 500.

Dividend yield

2.78%

Paid a Year

$4.35

Expense Ratio

0.09%

Assets

$9.9B

5-Yr Return

8.3%/yr

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about VPU

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, VPU yields 2.78% and pays about $4.35 a share a year, quarterly.
  • VPU paid $5.1990 a share in distributions over the 12 months to Nov 5, 2026, in 4 payments.
  • VPU's expense ratio is 0.09% a year, or $9.00 on $10,000.
  • VPU is an ETF from Vanguard with $9.9B in assets, started Jan 26, 2004.
  • In the 5 years to Oct 2026, VPU returned 8.3% a year with distributions reinvested (5.1% a year from price alone), against 12.0% for the S&P 500.
  • In the 10 years to Oct 2026, VPU returned 9.0% a year with distributions reinvested (5.7% a year from price alone), against 15.3% for the S&P 500.
  • Since Dec 2007, VPU's share price is up 114%, and with distributions reinvested it returned 303%.
  • VPU's three largest holdings are NextEra Energy Inc (11.4%), Southern Co (6.7%), Duke Energy Corp (6.4%).
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "VPU Dividend Yield, Expense Ratio and Total Return," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/VPU

What $10,000 in VPU became

Change the dates →

From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, month-end values

Payouts reinvested

$40,253

Payouts taken as cash

$29,405

$7,987 of it cash

S&P 500 (SPY)

$72,756

Since Dec 2007, VPU's share price is up 114%, and with distributions reinvested it returned 303%. Its payouts haven't come at the expense of the share price, so there is no NAV erosion over this period.

VPU total return

A year, through Oct 2026. Total return counts every payout, reinvested; price return doesn't.

PeriodTotal returnPrice returnS&P 500
1 year−0.1%−2.8%+12.0%
3 years+16.9%+13.4%+23.3%
5 years+8.3%+5.1%+12.0%
10 years+9.0%+5.7%+15.3%
Since Dec 2007+7.7%+4.1%+11.1%

VPU distributions

Every payment →

Paid per share, by year

Ex-datePaidPer share
Sep 23, 2026—$1.2580
Jun 24, 2026—$1.3010
Mar 24, 2026—$1.2770
Dec 17, 2025—$1.3630
Sep 24, 2025—$1.2270
Jun 26, 2025—$1.2260
Mar 25, 2025—$1.2280
Dec 18, 2024—$1.2750
Sep 27, 2024—$1.3120
Jun 28, 2024—$1.2450
Mar 22, 2024—$1.0960
Dec 19, 2023—$1.31

What VPU holds

Top ten holdings and sector weights as the fund reports them.

  1. NEE NextEra Energy Inc11.4%
  2. SO Southern Co6.7%
  3. DUK Duke Energy Corp6.4%
  4. CEG Constellation Energy Corp5.7%
  5. AEP American Electric Power Co Inc4.7%
  6. D Dominion Energy Inc3.8%
  7. SRE Sempra3.7%
  8. VST Vistra Corp3.4%
  9. ETR Entergy Corp3.3%
  10. XEL Xcel Energy Inc3.2%
  • Utilities99.2%
  • Energy0.5%

Compare VPU

VPU questions

What is VPU's dividend yield?

As of Nov 5, 2026, VPU yields 2.78%. Over the last 12 months it paid $5.1990 a share in 4 payments, against a $187.04 share price.

How often does VPU pay dividends?

VPU pays quarterly, 4 times a year.

How much does 100 shares of VPU pay?

At about $4.3490 a share a year, 100 shares of VPU pay about $434.90 a year, $108.73 each quarter, before tax.

What is VPU's expense ratio?

VPU's expense ratio is 0.09% a year: $9.00 on every $10,000 invested, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you.

What is VPU's total return?

In the 5 years to Oct 2026, VPU returned 8.3% a year with distributions reinvested, of which 5.1% a year came from the share price. The S&P 500 returned 12.0% a year.

Does VPU have NAV erosion?

Since Dec 2007, VPU's share price is up 114%, and with distributions reinvested it returned 303%. Its payouts haven't come at the expense of the share price, so there is no NAV erosion over this period.

What does VPU hold?

VPU's largest holdings are NextEra Energy Inc (11.4%), Southern Co (6.7%), Duke Energy Corp (6.4%). Its top ten make up 52% of the fund.

Fund facts

Type
ETF
Issuer
Vanguard
Category
Utilities
Started
Jan 26, 2004
Expense ratio
0.09%
Assets
$9.9B
Dividend yield
2.78%
Paid in the last year
$5.1990 (4 payments)
Last payment
$1.2580 · ex Sep 23, 2026
Beta (3 years)
0.36

Income Calculator

At $4.35 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$108.73
Annual$434.90
Monthly avg$36.24
Full VPU dividend calculator →
VPU total return calculatorAny start year, with or without reinvestingVPU dividend calculator100 shares pay $434.90 a year, $108.73 each quarter

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Fund facts from the fund's own reports via Yahoo Finance; payments and returns from SmarterDividends records. For information only, not investment advice.