Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF · Official 2026 Schedule
VYM ETF 2026 Dividend Dates
When does VYM pay its dividend? Every ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date for VYM in 2026 — sourced directly from Vanguard's official distribution schedule.
4Quarterly Payments
Mar 20Q1 Ex-Date
Jun 18Q2 Ex-Date
Sep 18Q3 Ex-Date
Dec 18Q4 Ex-Date
When Does VYM Pay Its Dividend in 2026?
✓Dates sourced from Vanguard's Official 2026 Dividend Schedule (DIVDAT 2026) and confirmed distribution data
The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) distributes dividends quarterly — four times per year. Below is the complete VYM ETF dividend date schedule for 2026, including every confirmed ex-dividend date, record date, and payable date, sourced directly from Vanguard's official 2026 ETF Distributions Schedule and confirmed distribution records.
To receive a VYM dividend payment, you must own shares before the ex-dividend date. If you purchase shares on or after the ex-date, you will not receive that quarter's dividend. VYM typically pays its dividend approximately 3–5 business days after the ex-dividend date.
In addition to the four quarterly distributions, VYM also has a capital gains (XCAP) distribution scheduled for December 30, 2026, with a pay date of January 4, 2027. Always verify final amounts at vanguard.com.
All dates confirmed via Vanguard's official 2026 ETF Distributions Schedule and future distribution data. A capital gains (XCAP) distribution is also scheduled for Dec 30, 2026.
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF — 2026 Distribution Dates
VYM
Date Type
Q1 — March
Q2 — June
Q3 — September
Q4 — December
Ex-Dividend Date
Mar 20, 2026 ✓
Jun 18, 2026 ✓
Sep 18, 2026 ✓
Dec 18, 2026 ✓
Record Date
Mar 20, 2026 ✓
Jun 18, 2026 ✓
Sep 18, 2026 ✓
Dec 18, 2026 ✓
Payable Date
Mar 24, 2026 ✓
Jun 23, 2026 ✓
Sep 22, 2026 ✓
Dec 22, 2026 ✓
All dates are subject to change without notice per Vanguard's official disclosures.
VYM 2026 Capital Gains Distribution (XCAP)
XCAP
Distribution Type
Ex-Dividend Date
Record Date
Pay Date
Capital Gains (XCAP)
Dec 30, 2026 ✓
Dec 30, 2026 ✓
Jan 4, 2027 ✓
This is a separate annual capital gains distribution — not a quarterly income dividend. Amount TBD; declared by Vanguard in late December.
Quarter-by-quarter view of every VYM dividend payment in 2026.
Q1 — March✓ Q1
Ex-DateMar 20, 2026
RecordMar 20, 2026
PayableMar 24, 2026
Q2 — June✓ Q2
Ex-DateJun 18, 2026
RecordJun 18, 2026
PayableJun 23, 2026
Q3 — September✓ Q3
Ex-DateSep 18, 2026
RecordSep 18, 2026
PayableSep 22, 2026
Q4 — December✓ Q4
Ex-DateDec 18, 2026
RecordDec 18, 2026
PayableDec 22, 2026
🏦 Capital Gains Distribution (XCAP) — Dec 2026XCAP
Ex-Date
Dec 30, 2026
Record
Dec 30, 2026
Payable
Jan 4, 2027
This is a separate annual capital gains distribution, not a quarterly income dividend. The per-share amount will be declared by Vanguard in late December 2026.
What Is the VYM ETF?
Ticker
VYM
Issuer
Vanguard
Frequency
Quarterly
Index
FTSE High Dividend Yield
Expense Ratio
0.06%
Yield (TTM)
~2.2%
The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is one of the most widely held dividend ETFs in the United States, with over $90 billion in assets under management. It tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which selects U.S. stocks — excluding REITs — forecast to have above-average dividend yields, weighted by market capitalization.
VYM is a cornerstone holding for income investors thanks to its ultra-low 0.06% expense ratio, broad diversification across hundreds of dividend-paying companies, and Vanguard's long track record of delivering consistent quarterly income. Since its inception in 2006, VYM has paid dividends every single year.
Its quarterly distribution schedule — typically in March, June, September, and December — gives investors predictable, four-times-per-year income from a portfolio of financially strong U.S. companies across every major sector.
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Three key dates determine whether you qualify for a VYM dividend and when you get paid.
Understanding the Three Key Dates
Ex-Dividend Date: You must own VYM shares before this date to receive the dividend. Buying on or after the ex-date means you miss that quarter's payment.
Record Date: The date Vanguard officially records eligible shareholders. For VYM, the ex-dividend date and record date are typically the same day each quarter.
Payable Date: The date the dividend is deposited into your brokerage account — typically 3–5 business days after the ex-dividend date.
Find the upcoming VYM ex-dividend dateUse the table above. You must hold shares before this date to qualify for that quarter's payment.
Purchase shares before the ex-dateBuy VYM at least one trading day before the ex-dividend date so your trade settles in time.
Hold through the record dateStay a shareholder on the record date (same day as ex-date for VYM).
Receive your payment on the payable dateYour VYM dividend is credited to your brokerage account approximately 3–5 days after the ex-date.
💡 Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP)
Most brokerages allow you to automatically reinvest your VYM dividends back into additional shares via a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP). Because VYM holds hundreds of large-cap dividend-paying companies, reinvesting your quarterly distributions compounds both the income stream and the underlying equity growth over time.
Frequently Asked Questions — VYM Dividends 2026
Answers to the most common questions about the VYM ETF ex-dividend date, payment dates, and dividend schedule.
When does VYM pay its dividend in 2026?
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VYM pays its dividend four times in 2026. The confirmed payment (payable) dates are: March 24 (Q1), June 23 (Q2), September 22 (Q3), and December 22 (Q4). There is also a separate capital gains (XCAP) distribution payable on January 4, 2027 (ex-date December 30, 2026).
What is the VYM ETF ex-dividend date in 2026?
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All four VYM ex-dividend dates in 2026 are confirmed: March 20 (Q1), June 18 (Q2), September 18 (Q3), and December 18 (Q4). There is also a capital gains (XCAP) ex-dividend date of December 30, 2026. You must own shares before each ex-date to receive that distribution.
How often does VYM pay dividends?
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VYM pays dividends on a quarterly basis — four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. Vanguard has paid a dividend every single year since VYM's inception in 2006.
What is the VYM Q1 2026 ex-dividend date?
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The VYM Q1 2026 ex-dividend date was March 20, 2026. The record date was also March 20, and the payment date was March 24, 2026. The Q1 2026 distribution was $0.8617 per share.
What is the VYM Q2 2026 ex-dividend date?
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The VYM Q2 2026 ex-dividend date is June 18, 2026. The record date is June 18 and the payable date is June 23, 2026. To receive the Q2 2026 dividend, you must have owned VYM shares before June 18.
What is the VYM Q3 2026 ex-dividend date?
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The VYM Q3 2026 ex-dividend date is September 18, 2026. The record date is also September 18, and the payable date is September 22, 2026. You must own VYM shares before September 18 to receive the Q3 2026 distribution.
What is the VYM Q4 2026 ex-dividend date?
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The VYM Q4 2026 ex-dividend date is December 18, 2026. The record date is also December 18, and the payable date is December 22, 2026. You must own VYM shares before December 18 to receive the Q4 2026 distribution.
What is the VYM 2026 capital gains distribution date?
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In addition to the four quarterly income dividends, VYM has a capital gains (XCAP) distribution scheduled for December 30, 2026, with a record date of December 30 and a pay date of January 4, 2027. This is a separate annual distribution — distinct from the quarterly income dividends — and the per-share amount will be declared by Vanguard in late December 2026.
Can VYM dividend dates change in 2026?
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Yes. All Vanguard ETF distribution dates are subject to change without notice per Vanguard's official disclosures. Always verify the latest dates through Vanguard's official website at vanguard.com or your brokerage account before making investment decisions.
Can I sell VYM after the ex-dividend date and still receive the dividend?
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Yes. Once you own VYM before the ex-dividend date, you are entitled to that quarter's dividend regardless of when you sell afterward. You can sell on or after the ex-date and still receive the payment on the payable date — typically 3–5 business days later.
What was VYM's most recent dividend per share?
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VYM's most recent confirmed distribution was $0.8617 per share for Q1 2026, paid on March 24, 2026. On a trailing twelve-month basis, VYM pays approximately $3.44–$3.63 per share annually, for a yield of roughly 2.2% at current prices. The Q2 2026 per-share amount will be finalized around the ex-dividend date of June 18, 2026.
What index does VYM track?
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VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which includes U.S. companies — excluding REITs — forecast to have above-average dividend yields. The index is weighted by market capitalization and currently holds over 500 stocks, giving VYM broad exposure to dividend-paying U.S. equities across all major sectors.
Important Disclaimer
The dividend dates on this page are sourced from Vanguard's published 2026 ETF Distributions Schedule (DIVDAT 2026) and official future distribution data. All dates are subject to change without notice. Per-share distribution amounts for Q3, Q4, and the XCAP capital gains distribution will be declared by Vanguard prior to each respective record date. This page does not constitute financial or investment advice. Past dividend history does not guarantee future distributions. Always verify dates and amounts with Vanguard's official materials at vanguard.com or your brokerage before making investment decisions.