The Best Performing Dividend ETFs over the Last 10 Years
Published: September 13, 2025 / Updated November 6, 2026
Analysis by YCharts Research Team
Dividend income composes a major part of equity investing over the long run; more than one-third of U.S. stock market total returns since 1930 have been produced by dividends.
The rise of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in recent decades have enabled exposure to many individual stocks through a single security that trades on the open market. Thanks to ETFs, portfolio managers and clients have been afforded convenient access to a basket of companies packaged together in a single, cost-efficient security focused on a targeted investment objective.
One common investment objective is dividend income, and this article contains the best-performing dividend ETFs from the last year all the way back to the past decade, with data routinely updated by YCharts.
Dividend-paying ETFs have benefited from a market environment increasingly favoring defensive, income-oriented investments over high-growth technology and semiconductor stocks. In 2026, elevated geopolitical tensions, higher oil prices, and market volatility have encouraged investors to seek stability in more defensive sectors, making up significant portions of many dividend ETF portfolios which helps them outperform during periods of market uncertainty. Over the past year, three years, and five years, the iShares Core Dividend ETF has emerged as the top performer. However, technology-focused dividend strategies have remained competitive over longer periods, with TDVI toward the top of the three-year performance rankings, highlighting the continued influence of AI-driven growth and strong earnings from dividend-paying technology companies.
Longer-term performance also underscores the defensive characteristics and compounding benefits of dividend investing. During the 2022 market downturn, several dividend ETFs delivered positive total returns while broader equity markets suffered significant losses. Their exposure to lower-volatility sectors, energy stocks, and established businesses helped cushion declines, while reinvested dividends provided an additional source of return. Over the past decade, funds emphasizing consistent dividend growth have generally outperformed higher-yielding alternatives, reinforcing the importance of sustainable payouts, earnings quality, and long-term business strength. Overall, the trends suggest that dividend ETFs can offer investors a combination of income, relative downside protection, and long-term compounding potential, although performance varies depending on sector exposure, market conditions, and investment strategy.
To create these lists, we analyzed the entire ETF universe using the YCharts Fund Screener to find the best-performing equity income ETFs on a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year basis, as well as YTD.
Table of Contents
Looking for similar lists of the best-performing dividend stocks? Check out our Best Performing Dividend Stocks analysis here.
Best Performing Dividend ETFs YTD
These are the top-performing dividend ETFs YTD, as of October 31, 2026. One of the biggest themes of 2026 has been a rotation out of high-growth technology and semiconductor names into more defensive sectors. US equity indexes retreated as semiconductor and software stocks led mega-cap declines amid a rotation out of long-duration sectors, with technology hitting the bottom of sector charts while consumer defensive emerged as the leader. Dividend ETFs are heavily weighted toward the exact sectors benefiting from this rotation: financials, consumer staples, healthcare, utilities, and real estate. Additionally, elevated crude oil prices and the ongoing Iran conflict drove investors toward safer, income-generating stocks throughout the year. Technology, communication services, and consumer discretionary were among the worst performers during risk-off periods, while energy, utilities, and consumer staples topped the gainers. This macro backdrop was a tailwind for dividend-oriented strategies.
| Symbol | Name | 1 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Dividend Yield | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIVB | iShares Core Dividend ETF | 36.59% | 255.18% | 2.08% | 0.05% | $2,352,072,666 |
| SCHD | Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | 33.65% | 591.23% | 2.98% | 0.06% | $120,465,260,808 |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 30.86% | 428.66% | 3.14% | 0.08% | $16,185,577,970 |
| XUDV | Franklin US Dividend Booster Index ETF | 28.17% | 38.73% | 3.35% | 0.09% | $78,960,434 |
| DIVN | Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 25.30% | 35.24% | 4.14% | 0.70% | $353,962,123 |
| SDOG | Alps Sector Dividend Dogs ETF | 25.20% | 396.71% | 3.37% | 0.36% | $1,443,138,168 |
| FDL | First Tr Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 24.85% | 491.14% | 3.59% | 0.43% | $8,594,716,850 |
| QDIV | Global X S&P 500 Quality Dividend ETF | 24.71% | 118.18% | 2.58% | 0.20% | $31,975,863 |
| COWS | Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF | 24.56% | 74.30% | 1.28% | 0.19% | $46,565,986 |
| PEY | Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achvrs ETF | 24.49% | 312.20% | 4.19% | 0.68% | $1,168,659,855 |
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The following chart shows the total return of the 10 best-performing dividend-paying ETFs in 2026, through October 31, 2026:
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Best Performing Dividend ETFs in the Last Year
These are the top-performing dividend ETFs over the past year, as of October 31, 2026. The best-performing dividend-paying ETF in the last year is the iShares Core Dividend ETF (DIVB). Most of these names are similar to those on the YTD best performers list, the two new additions being the VanEck Durable High Dividend ETF (DURA) and the Genter Capital Dividend Income ETF (GEND), which claim the #9 and #10 spots for the best-performing dividend ETFs in the last year.
| Symbol | Name | 1 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Dividend Yield | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIVB | iShares Core Dividend ETF | 40.66% | 255.18% | 2.08% | 0.05% | $2,352,072,666 |
| SCHD | Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | 38.43% | 591.23% | 2.98% | 0.06% | $120,465,260,808 |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 34.84% | 428.66% | 3.14% | 0.08% | $16,185,577,970 |
| COWS | Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF | 31.22% | 74.30% | 1.28% | 0.19% | $46,565,986 |
| FDL | First Tr Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 31.07% | 491.14% | 3.59% | 0.43% | $8,594,716,850 |
| XUDV | Franklin US Dividend Booster Index ETF | 30.94% | 38.73% | 3.35% | 0.09% | $78,960,434 |
| DIVN | Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 30.24% | 35.24% | 4.14% | 0.70% | $353,962,123 |
| SDOG | Alps Sector Dividend Dogs ETF | 29.31% | 396.71% | 3.37% | 0.36% | $1,443,138,168 |
| DURA | VanEck Durable High Dividend ETF | 29.02% | 110.23% | 3.09% | 0.30% | $38,296,356 |
| GEND | Genter Capital Dividend Income ETF | 27.41% | 43.94% | 2.86% | 0.38% | $7,338,897 |
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The following chart shows the total return of the 10 best-performing dividend-paying ETFs in the last 12 months, through October 31, 2026:
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Best Performing Dividend ETFs in the Last 3 Years
These are the top-performing dividend ETFs on an annualized basis between November 1st, 2023 and October 31, 2026. The FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF (TDVI) is at the top of the three-year performers and also sports an 8% dividend yield. This fund blends tech exposure with an income overlay. Technology companies like Microsoft, Apple, Broadcom, and Oracle–all of which are notable for paying dividends–have been extraordinary performers over this period driven by the AI investment boom. Technology has led the earnings growth chart, with reports from some companies showing a 301% surge in profits year over year, As some of these tech companies pay (and grow) dividends, they are holdings within several of these ETFs.
Total return figures include reinvested dividends, and over a 3-year horizon, compounding matters. The income component compounds year-over-year on top of price gains, adding several percentage points to the total return figures and beyond what price charts alone would show.
| Symbol | Name | 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Dividend Yield | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIVB | iShares Core Dividend ETF | 113.79% | 28.82% | 255.18% | 2.08% | 0.05% | $2,352,072,666 |
| TDVI | FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF | 111.72% | 28.41% | 101.82% | 8.00% | 0.75% | $664,858,235 |
| UDIV | Franklin US Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF | 99.95% | 25.98% | 214.71% | 1.47% | 0.06% | $152,509,715 |
| CGDV | Capital Group Dividend Value ETF | 96.09% | 25.16% | 112.68% | 1.27% | 0.33% | $37,847,866,777 |
| RDIV | Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF | 93.55% | 24.62% | 311.32% | 3.41% | 0.39% | $1,526,244,037 |
| FDRR | Fidelity Dividend ETF for Rising Rates | 89.49% | 23.75% | 260.09% | 2.09% | 0.15% | $745,658,101 |
| FDL | First Tr Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 89.33% | 23.71% | 491.14% | 3.59% | 0.43% | $8,594,716,850 |
| HIDV | AB US High Dividend ETF | 86.70% | 23.13% | 99.88% | 2.58% | 0.35% | $200,959,960 |
| RDVY | First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | 86.63% | 23.12% | 390.47% | 0.87% | 0.47% | $26,091,088,772 |
| COWS | Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETF | 86.43% | 23.08% | 74.30% | 1.28% | 0.19% | $46,565,986 |
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The following chart shows the total return of the 10 best-performing dividend-paying ETFs in the last three years, through October 31, 2026:
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Best Performing Dividend ETFs in the Last 5 Years
These are the top-performing dividend ETFs on an annualized basis between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2026. This 5-year window opens in late 2021 and contains one of the worst years in modern market history. In 2022, the S&P 500 fell approximately 18%, and the Nasdaq fell over 30% as long-duration growth stocks collapsed.
But dividend ETFs largely held up better than the market did. This is the defining characteristic of this 5-year dataset; several of the funds listed, including HDV, FDL, RDIV, and DHS, actually produced positive total returns in 2022 when most of the market was deeply negative. The reasons behind this:
- Lower duration: Dividend-paying value stocks are less sensitive to rising rates than long-duration growth stocks, whose valuations collapse when discount rates rise.
- Energy exposure: Many high-dividend ETFs are significantly weighted to energy companies, and energy was the only S&P 500 sector with strongly positive returns in 2022, as the Russia-Ukraine war sent commodity prices surging.
- Defensive sector concentration: Utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples — staples of dividend ETF portfolios — held up far better than technology and consumer discretionary in 2022.
- Continued income: Even as prices fell, these ETFs continued paying dividends, and those dividends were reinvested at lower prices — buying more shares cheaply ahead of the eventual recovery.
| Symbol | Name | 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Dividend Yield | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIVB | iShares Core Dividend ETF | 96.43% | 14.46% | 255.18% | 2.08% | 0.05% | $2,352,072,666 |
| FDL | First Tr Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 96.26% | 14.44% | 491.14% | 3.59% | 0.43% | $8,594,716,850 |
| UDIV | Franklin US Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF | 91.49% | 13.87% | 214.71% | 1.47% | 0.06% | $152,509,715 |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 88.97% | 13.57% | 428.66% | 3.14% | 0.08% | $16,185,577,970 |
| BEDY | BNY Mellon Enhanced Dividend and Income ETF | 88.77% | 13.55% | 646.60% | 6.64% | 0.50% | $327,420,305 |
| FDVV | Fidelity High Dividend ETF | 87.89% | 13.44% | 252.48% | 2.77% | 0.15% | $10,404,090,665 |
| RDIV | Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF | 87.24% | 13.37% | 311.32% | 3.41% | 0.39% | $1,526,244,037 |
| DHS | WisdomTree US High Dividend Fund | 83.14% | 12.86% | 408.22% | 3.21% | 0.38% | $1,642,534,738 |
| RFDA | ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF | 83.09% | 12.86% | 265.55% | 2.03% | 0.52% | $76,441,698 |
| MBOX | Freedom Day Dividend ETF | 82.29% | 12.76% | 90.26% | 1.85% | 0.39% | $158,511,279 |
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The following chart shows the total return of the 10 best-performing dividend-paying ETFs in the last five years, through October 31, 2026:
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Best Performing Dividend ETFs in the Last 10 Years
These are the top-performing dividend ETFs on an annualized basis between November 1, 2016 and October 31, 2026. Though the top five ETFs over the last ten years yield less than the bottom five ETFs on the list as well as the YTD leaders, they have outperformed over a decade. This is a cornerstone of long-term dividend investing: dividend growth, not dividend yield, is the primary driver of compounding wealth over a full market cycle. Companies that consistently grow their dividends tend to be high-quality businesses with durable earnings, strong balance sheets, pricing power, and disciplined capital allocation, qualities that compound powerfully over time.
| Symbol | Name | 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Dividend Yield | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDVY | First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | 315.56% | 15.31% | 390.47% | 0.87% | 0.47% | $26,091,088,772 |
| DGRW | WisdomTree US Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 278.16% | 14.23% | 414.20% | 1.27% | 0.28% | $16,565,406,082 |
| DGRO | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 275.22% | 14.14% | 336.74% | 1.86% | 0.08% | $44,882,352,137 |
| FDRR | Fidelity Dividend ETF for Rising Rates | 263.43% | 13.77% | 260.09% | 2.09% | 0.15% | $745,658,101 |
| VIG | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | 263.25% | 13.77% | 641.13% | 1.49% | 0.04% | $115,789,359,274 |
| RFDA | ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF | 262.18% | 13.73% | 265.55% | 2.03% | 0.52% | $76,441,698 |
| SCHD | Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | 261.05% | 13.70% | 591.23% | 2.98% | 0.06% | $120,465,260,808 |
| FDVV | Fidelity High Dividend ETF | 257.31% | 13.58% | 252.48% | 2.77% | 0.15% | $10,404,090,665 |
| BEDY | BNY Mellon Enhanced Dividend and Income ETF | 244.94% | 13.18% | 646.60% | 6.64% | 0.50% | $327,420,305 |
| DJD | Invesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Div ETF | 239.04% | 12.99% | 265.78% | 2.23% | 0.07% | $536,493,803 |
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The following chart shows the total return of the 10 best-performing dividend-paying ETFs in the last ten years, through October 31, 2026:
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What Was the Growth of $10,000 in the Top Dividend ETFs Over the Last 10 Years?
The best-performing dividend-paying ETF in the last ten years is the First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY). A $10,000 investment into RDVY 10 years ago would be worth $41,560 today. Right behind it was the WisdomTree US Quality Dividend Growth Fund ETF (DGRW); investing $10,000 into DGRW back in 2016 would’ve turned into a little over $37K.
Investing $10,000 into the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index netted a balance of $29,360 on a 11.4% annualized total return over the last ten years, landing it 4.07 percentage points below the S&P 500 Total Return in that same time frame.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What was the methodology behind finding the best-performing ETFs over these time periods?
The YCharts Fund Screener was used to find the best performing ETFs over the last year, three years, five years, and ten years, as well as YTD. The Fund Screener narrowed the entire universe of over 13,000 ETFs to equity ETFs domiciled in the United States within the equity income funds peer group, showing funds whose inception dates go back to at least the start of the respective time period. Inverse funds, leveraged funds, alternative currency strategies funds, and options arbitrage/options strategies funds were excluded from the results to focus on long-term investment vehicles that align with broader financial planning goals. Then, the remaining ETFs were sorted by total returns in descending order for each time period. The 10 ETFs with the highest Total Return over each time period are featured in this analysis.
What is the difference between Total Return, Total Return since Inception, and Annualized Total Return?
Total Return is the change in price over a specific period of time, reflecting dividends and distributions that are assumed to be reinvested on their payment dates, net of the expense ratio. Total Return since Inception shows the return for the entire period since the ETF was launched. Annualized Total Return represents the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an investment over a specified period, assuming all income—such as dividends, interest, and capital gains distributions—is reinvested.
Do these returns include reinvested dividends?
Each performance chart shows Total Return, which includes the impact of reinvested dividends. Data tables show Total Return figures for each ETF over the respective time period. Additionally, Total Return since Inception is shown for the best-performing ETFs YTD and over the last year, while Annualized Total Return is featured for ETFs across all other time periods.
What is Net Expense Ratio?
The Net Expense Ratio represents the cost of owning a fund. It expresses the percent of assets deducted each fiscal year to cover various fund expenses, including 12b-1 fees, management and administrative charges, operational expenditures, and all other costs tied to managing and operating a fund, less any fee waivers or other rebates. Transaction fees, brokerage costs and sales charges are not reflected in the expense ratio. In contrast, the gross expense ratio does not incorporate any fee waivers or other adjustments that were in effect during the time period.
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