Is VPU or RYLD a better dividend investment in 2026?

VPU currently yields 2.57% with a 5% 5-year dividend growth rate. RYLD yields 4.00% with 5% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: RYLD offers higher current income.

What is the dividend yield difference between VPU and RYLD?

VPU has a forward dividend yield of 2.57% ($5.09/share annually). RYLD yields 4.00% ($2.00/share annually). The yield gap is 1.43 percentage points.

Home › Compare › VPU vs RYLD

VPU vs RYLD: Dividend Comparison 2026

VPU yields 2.57% · RYLD yields 4.00%● Live data

vsPost on X →

After 10 years · $10,000 invested · DRIP enabled

🏆 RYLD wins by $4.5K in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

VPU

● Live price

2.57%

Share price

$198.11

Annual div

$5.09

5Y div CAGR

Payout ratio

50%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$23.5K

Annual income

$303.49

Full VPU calculator →

RYLD

● Live price

4.00%

Share price

$50.00

Annual div

$2.00

5Y div CAGR

Payout ratio

50%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$28.0K

Annual income

$899.19

Full RYLD calculator →

Portfolio growth — VPU vs RYLD

📍 RYLD pulled ahead of the other in Year 1

Annual dividend income

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Recession Test — Did They Cut Dividends?

How each stock treated shareholders during the 3 biggest crises of the last 20 years

Crisis Period	VPU	RYLD
2008–2009 GFC	— No data	— No data
2020 Q1–Q2 COVID	— No data	— No data
2022 Q4 Rate Hike	— No data	— No data

Based on dividend payment history. "Increased" = dividend grew during crisis. "Maintained" = held within 3%. "Cut" = reduced by more than 3%.

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Dividend Calendar Overlap

Combined, VPU + RYLD cover 0 of 12 months — good coverage

Jan

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Feb

—

Mar

—

Apr

—

May

—

Jun

—

Jul

—

Aug

—

Sep

—

Oct

—

Nov

—

Dec

—

VPU pays

RYLD pays

Both pay

Neither

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Tax Bracket Optimizer

Which stock is actually better after tax? Adjust your rate to find out.

VPU

Annual income on $10K today (after 15% tax)

$218.53/yr

After 10yr DRIP, annual income (after tax)

$257.97/yr

RYLD

Annual income on $10K today (after 15% tax)

$340.00/yr

After 10yr DRIP, annual income (after tax)

$764.31/yr

At 15% tax rate, RYLD beats the other by $506.35/year in after-tax income after 10 years on $10,000

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Lazy Portfolio Split Optimizer

What's the optimal mix of VPU + RYLD for your $10,000?

VPU: 50%RYLD: 50%

100% RYLD50/50100% VPU

Portfolio after 10yr

$25.8K

Annual income

$601.34/yr

Blended yield

2.33%

🏛️

Copy Congress — What Are Politicians Buying?

Senate & House STOCK Act disclosures (last 90 days)

VPU buys

RYLD buys

No recent congressional trades found for VPU or RYLD in the last 90 days.

STOCK Act mandates disclosure within 45 days of transaction. Data via FMP.Full tracker →

MetricVPURYLD

Forward yield	2.57%	4.00% ✓
Annual dividend / share	$5.09 ✓	$2.00
Payout ratio	50%	50%
1-year div growth	0%	5% ✓
5-year div CAGR	0%	5% ✓
Portfolio after 10y	$23.5K	$28.0K ✓
Annual income after 10y	$303.49	$899.19 ✓
Total dividends collected	$2.8K	$6.4K ✓
Payment frequency	quarterly	quarterly
Sector	Stock	ETF

Year-by-year: VPU vs RYLD ($10,000, DRIP)

Year	VPU Portfolio	VPU Income/yr	RYLD Portfolio	RYLD Income/yr	Gap
1← crossover	$10,957	$257.09	$11,120	$420.00	$163.00 → RYLD
2	$11,987	$263.27	$12,357	$458.31	$370.00 → RYLD
3	$13,096	$269.18	$13,721	$499.76	$625.00 → RYLD
4	$14,287	$274.83	$15,227	$544.58	$940.00 → RYLD
5	$15,567	$280.22	$16,885	$593.02	$1.3K → RYLD
6	$16,943	$285.35	$18,713	$645.34	$1.8K → RYLD
7	$18,419	$290.24	$20,724	$701.81	$2.3K → RYLD
8	$20,003	$294.89	$22,938	$762.73	$2.9K → RYLD
9	$21,703	$299.30	$25,372	$828.41	$3.7K → RYLD
10	$23,525	$303.49	$28,047	$899.19	$4.5K → RYLD

VPU vs RYLD: Complete Analysis 2026

VPU — Stock

Seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks in the utilities sector. Passively managed, using a full-replication strategy when possible and a sampling strategy if regulatory constraints dictate. Includes stocks of companies that distribute electricity, water, or gas, or that operate as independent power producers.

Full VPU Calculator →

RYLD — ETF

RYLD is a dividend-paying stock. Use this calculator to estimate your future dividend income, DRIP compounding returns, and passive income potential from investing in RYLD shares.

Full RYLD Calculator →

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⚠️ Educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Congressional trades sourced from SEC STOCK Act filings via FMP. Past performance does not guarantee future results.