VDIGX vs VMLUX
Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Investor Class vs Vanguard Limited Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class
Which is better, VDIGX or VMLUX?
Large Cap Blend against Municipal Bond.
VMLUX has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | VDIGX | VMLUX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $35.5B | $34.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 23.10% | 2.93% |
| Holdings | 62 | 7,398 |
| YTD Price Return | -3.99% | -1.91% |
| 1Y Price Return | -14.10% | -2.35% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.79% | +0.47% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.26% | -0.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 2.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.6% | -8.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | May 15, 1992 | Feb 12, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 5 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. VDIGX currently yields 23.10% and VMLUX 2.93%.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).
VDIGX vs VMLUX Performance
Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Investor Class (VDIGX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Limited Term Tax-Exempt Fund admiral class (VMLUX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VDIGX's price moved -14.10% and VMLUX's -2.35%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VDIGX compounded at -3.79% per year against +0.47% for VMLUX; over five years the annualized figures are -3.26% and -0.80% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VDIGX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 2.9% for VMLUX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -32.6% for VDIGX and -8.4% for VMLUX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VDIGX charges 0.20% per year while VMLUX charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VDIGX currently yields 23.10% against 2.93% for VMLUX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in VDIGX and 872 in VMLUX, totalling 99.3% and 24.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in VDIGX and 872 in VMLUX, against full books of 62 and 7,398.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VDIGX and VMLUX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VDIGX or VMLUX?
VDIGX has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VMLUX charges 0.09%. VMLUX is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VDIGX or VMLUX?
VDIGX has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 2.9% for VMLUX. Worst drawdown: VDIGX -32.6% vs VMLUX -8.4%.
Should I hold both VDIGX and VMLUX?
VDIGX and VMLUX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VDIGX or VMLUX?
VDIGX yields 23.10% while VMLUX yields 2.93%, so VDIGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VMLUX better than VDIGX?
VMLUX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.