Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Admiral Shares
Figures last verified October 31, 2026
Tracks the S&P US Dividend Growers Index — companies with 10+ consecutive years of dividend increases.
Where VHYAX chases yield, VDADX chases the habit of raising dividends — a decade-plus of consecutive increases, which quietly screens for durable cash flows and disciplined management. The yield is unremarkable; the portfolio quality is the point. Think of it less as an income fund and more as a quality factor fund wearing a dividend costume.
Its personality shows in bad markets, where dividend growers have historically fallen less than the broad market, at the price of trailing in speculative rallies. For a conservative equity investor who wants stocks but flinches at full-market volatility, that trade can be worth eight basis points. For everyone else, it's a respectable tilt, not a necessity — VTSAX already owns every company in here.
Quality-tilted equity exposure via dividend growers.
VDADX alternatives & comparable funds
If you’re weighing VDADX against the field, these are the funds most investors line it up against — same job, different provider, slightly different terms.
| Fund | Family | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| VDADX — Vanguard Dividend Apprecia… | Vanguard | 0.08% | $3,000 |
| VHYAX — Vanguard High Dividend Yie… | Vanguard | 0.08% | $3,000 |
| VVIAX — Vanguard Value Index Fund … | Vanguard | 0.05% | $3,000 |
| JENSX — Jensen Quality Growth Fund (Class J) | Jensen | 0.81% | $2,500 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the expense ratio of VDADX?
VDADX (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Admiral Shares) has an expense ratio of 0.08%, which works out to roughly $8 per year for every $10,000 invested. That is very low by industry standards, where the average fund still charges well over 0.40%.
What is the minimum investment for VDADX?
VDADX requires a minimum initial investment of $3,000.
What does VDADX invest in?
Tracks the S&P US Dividend Growers Index — companies with 10+ consecutive years of dividend increases. It falls in the large value category and is an index fund.
What are good alternatives to VDADX?
The funds most often compared with VDADX are VHYAX, VVIAX, JENSX — broadly similar exposure from different providers, with small differences in fee, minimum, and portability that usually come down to which brokerage holds your account.
Expense ratio and minimum for VDADX drawn from Vanguard fund documentation; last verified October 31, 2026. Figures change — confirm against the official prospectus before investing. This review is editorial opinion, not investment advice.