VYM ETF Outperforms S&P 500, Led by Broadcom's AI Surge

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is significantly outperforming the S&P 500 in 2026, with a 5% year-to-date gain compared to the index's 1.5% loss. This success is attributed to the ETF's heavier weighting in financials, energy, industrials, consumer staples, and utilities—sectors that have held up better than growth-focused tech and communications stocks this year.

Despite its name, the ETF's largest holding is Broadcom (AVGO), which yields only 0.7%. Broadcom recently reported blowout earnings, with net revenue up 29% year-over-year and net income up 34%.

The article highlights that the fund focuses on dividend growth rather than high yield alone, and it does not remove stocks simply because their yield declines due to price appreciation. This is exemplified by holdings like Walmart, which has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years even as its yield has fallen.

The VYM ETF is well-diversified with 562 holdings and has an ultra-low expense ratio of 0.04%. Its top five holdings span technology (Broadcom), financials (JPMorgan Chase), energy (ExxonMobil), healthcare (Johnson & Johnson), and consumer staples (Walmart).

This performance signals a potential rotation in market leadership, where value and dividend-paying sectors are outperforming the high-growth tech names that dominated previous years. For income-focused investors, it validates a strategy that prioritizes durable dividend growth and sector diversification over chasing the highest yields.

The story of Broadcom is central. Its transformation from a stable chipmaker to an AI powerhouse, with AI revenue projected to hit $100 billion in fiscal 2027, demonstrates how a single holding can turbocharge an entire ETF's performance. This shows the fund's ability to capture major growth trends within a dividend-focused framework.

For the broader market, VYM's success suggests investor appetite for stability and income is strong in the current environment. The fund's low fee structure is also crucial, as it ensures more returns compound for shareholders over time.

Finally, the analysis matters because it redefines what a 'high dividend yield' ETF can be. By holding fast-growing companies like Broadcom and Walmart even as their yields compress, VYM offers a blend of income and capital appreciation that is beating the broader market in 2026.