This Vanguard ETF Has Paid Dividends for Years — Here’s What $10,000 Invested at Launch Is Worth Today

Core Insights - Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has delivered a since-inception annualized return of 9.32%, reflecting nearly two decades of performance through various market conditions [3] - An initial investment of $10,000 in VYM at its launch would have grown significantly, with the current share price at $153.43, representing a 208.92% gain over the past ten years [4] - The fund's dividend payments have increased from $0.175 per share in December 2006 to $0.9474 per share by Q4 2025, showcasing the compounding effect of reinvested dividends [4] Fund Performance - VYM holds approximately 562 stocks selected for above-average dividend yield and tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, with total assets around $88.5 billion and a low expense ratio of 0.04% [5] - The fund's top holdings include Broadcom (6.95% of the fund), which reported Q4 FY2025 revenue of $18.02 billion, up 28% year-over-year, and raised its quarterly dividend by 10% [6] - JPMorgan Chase (3.63% of the fund) has increased its quarterly dividend from $0.05 to $1.50 over the past 15 years, while ExxonMobil (2.71% of the fund) has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years [6]