VOO Dividend History: Yield, Dates, and Payout Growth

Few things spark as much curiosity among investors as a dividend that seems too low to matter — until you multiply it by a six-figure portfolio. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) pays out roughly $7.13 per share annually, translating to a trailing yield of about 1.05%, and this article breaks down its dividend history, growth trajectory, and what the numbers mean for your income goals.

Dividend Yield: 1.05% ·
Annual Dividend Per Share: $7.13 ·
Dividend Frequency: Quarterly ·
2024 Total Dividends: $6.70 ·
2025 Total Dividends: $7.07

Six key data points, one pattern: VOO’s dividend has grown every year since 2022, outpacing inflation and proving that broad market exposure can deliver income growth even at a modest starting yield.

How much does VOO pay in dividends?

VOO dividend yield and annual payout

• As of mid-2026, VOO’s trailing dividend yield stands at approximately 1.04–1.09%, based on $7.13 in annual dividends per share and a share price near $680. The yield is calculated by annualizing the most recent quarterly payment of $1.87 and dividing by the current share price. (Investing.com)
• VOO pays out dividends every quarter. According to Vanguard’s official dividend schedule, ex-dividend dates typically fall in March, June, September, and December, with payments landing a few days later. (Vanguard)
• For 2025, the first quarterly payment was $1.8724 per share (ex-date March 27, paid March 31). The total for the year so far (through Q3 2025 known) sums to $7.07. (Slickcharts)

VOO dividend per share history

Here’s how the annual dividend per share has moved in recent years:

• 2022: $6.36 per share
• 2023: $6.33 per share
• 2024: $6.70 per share
• 2025: $7.07 per share

The pattern: The dividend rebounded in 2024 after a flat 2023, then accelerated in 2025 — a 5.5% year-over-year increase that outpaces inflation. (Digrin)

How often does VOO pay dividends?

VOO dividend frequency

VOO pays dividends four times a year on a quarterly schedule. This frequency allows investors to receive a steady stream of income throughout the year, which can be reinvested or taken as cash.

VOO ex-dividend dates

The ex-dividend date is the cutoff for receiving the next payment. Vanguard’s official schedule shows that VOO’s ex-dividend dates typically occur in March, June, September, and December. The payment usually follows a few days after the ex-date. For example, in 2025, the ex-dividend dates were March 27, June 30, and September 29. (Vanguard)

Is VOO good for dividend income?

VOO dividend growth compared to inflation

VOO’s dividend growth rate has averaged about 6.6–7% annually over the past decade, according to dividend analytics platforms. That’s roughly double the long-term U.S. inflation rate, meaning the real purchasing power of your dividend income increases over time. (Snowball Analytics)

VOO vs high-yield dividend ETFs

• VOO’s 1.05% yield is far below dedicated high-dividend ETFs like VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF, ~3.0%) or SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, ~3.5%). However, VOO’s total return (dividends + price appreciation) has consistently beaten most dividend-focused funds due to stronger capital gains. (YouTube)
• The trade-off: VOO is not designed for immediate high income — it’s a growth-oriented core holding that happens to pay a small, growing dividend.

How much does $100,000 in VOO pay in dividends?

Calculating dividend income from VOO

At the current yield of 1.05%, a $100,000 investment in VOO generates approximately $1,050 per year in dividends. That breaks down to $262.50 per quarter (assuming four equal payments). (Finlo)

VOO dividend calculator examples

• $10,000 investment: ~$105 annual dividend income
• $100,000 investment: ~$1,050 annual dividend income
• $500,000 investment: ~$5,250 annual dividend income
• $1,000,000 investment: ~$10,500 annual dividend income

Note: These are pre-tax numbers. U.S. residents pay qualified dividend tax rates; international investors may face a 30% withholding tax under certain conditions. (Endowus)

The implication is that VOO’s dividend income, while reliable, is heavily impacted by tax status, making it less suitable for non-U.S. investors seeking current income.

How much VOO do you need to make $1,000 a month?

Required investment for monthly dividend target

To generate $1,000 per month ($12,000 annually) from VOO dividends, you need approximately $1.14 million invested at the current 1.05% yield. This calculation highlights the challenge of relying on a low-yield ETF for substantial monthly income. While possible for large portfolios, it requires significant capital compared to high-yield alternatives. (Finlo)

Why is VOO dividend so low?

VOO dividend yield vs S&P 500 average

VOO’s yield of 1.05% is essentially the S&P 500’s average yield because VOO tracks that index. The broader S&P 500 has seen its yield compress over the past decade as growth stocks — which pay little or no dividends — have dominated market capitalization. As of mid-2026, technology stocks make up about 39% of VOO’s holdings, many with yields below 0.5%. (Robinhood)

Impact of low-yield stocks in the index

The tilt toward tech means VOO’s dividend yield is structurally lower than it would have been 20 years ago, when industrial and financial stocks carried higher payouts. This isn’t a bug — it’s a feature of investing in the broad market. The catch is that you trade current income for higher total return potential. (Vanguard)

The implication is that VOO’s low yield is structural, not a flaw, reflecting the modern market’s composition.

Does Warren Buffett own VOO?

Warren Buffett and index fund investing

Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent 13F filings show that Warren Buffett sold his VOO position in 2021 and 2022. He has been a longtime advocate of low-cost S&P 500 index funds for most investors, but his own portfolio now leans heavily toward Apple, Bank of America, and other individual stocks. Buffett previously owned VOO in Berkshire’s portfolio, according to SEC filings. (Digrin)

Why Buffett sold his Vanguard index fund

• Buffett’s sale of VOO likely reflects Berkshire’s own scale — with $300+ billion in cash and equities, an index ETF position would be a rounding error. He continues to recommend the S&P 500 for most individual investors. (Digrin)
• The key takeaway: Buffett’s VOO ownership was temporary and not a current endorsement. For retail investors, however, he has explicitly said a low-cost S&P 500 fund is the best choice for most people.

What this means is that even the biggest investors see VOO as a tool for specific contexts, not a permanent holding.

Pros and Cons of VOO for Dividend Income

Specifications: VOO at a glance

The pattern here is clear: VOO provides broad market exposure with correspondingly broad market dividends.

Timeline: VOO dividend history

• 2022: Paid $6.36 per share in total dividends. (Digrin)
• 2023: Paid $6.33 per share (flat year). (Digrin)
• 2024: Paid $6.70 per share (5.8% increase). (Digrin)
• 2025: Paid $7.07 per share (5.5% increase). (Digrin)
• 2026 (projected): Q1 dividend of $1.8724 paid; next ex-dividend expected in June 2026. (Slickcharts)

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

• VOO tracks the S&P 500 Index. (Vanguard)
• VOO was launched on September 7, 2010. (Robinhood)
• VOO pays quarterly dividends with ex-dates in March, June, September, and December. (Vanguard)

What’s unclear or based on limited data

• Future dividend amounts are not guaranteed — they depend on S&P 500 constituent payouts and fund expenses.
• Warren Buffett’s current ETF holdings beyond VOO are not fully public (his 13F shows large individual stocks).
• VOO dividend yield is approximately 1.05% as of mid-2026, according to data from Slickcharts.
• Annual dividend per share for trailing 12 months is $7.13, as reported by Slickcharts.
• Warren Buffett sold his VOO holdings in 2021 and 2022, based on SEC filings tracked by Digrin.
• 10-year dividend growth rate is approximately 6.6–7% annually, estimated by Snowball Analytics.

Perspectives from the market

“VOO pays dividends quarterly. The ex-dividend date is the cutoff — buy before that date to get the next payment.”

— Reddit r/dividends contributor (Reddit)

“VOO’s yield is about 1.04% — slightly higher than VTI’s 1.02% — because VOO excludes small-cap stocks which tend to have lower yields.”

— PortfoliosLab comparison tool (PortfoliosLab)

What it all means for your portfolio

VOO’s dividend history shows a consistent upward trend, with total annual dividends per share moving from $6.36 in 2022 to $7.07 in 2025 — an 11% cumulative increase. But the yield remains low by historical standards, and that’s unlikely to change unless the market composition shifts away from growth stocks. For a U.S. investor investing for retirement 20 years out, reinvesting VOO’s dividends and banking on capital appreciation makes sense. But if you need to live off dividends today, the choice is clear: you’ll need either a much larger nest egg, or a focus on higher-yielding ETFs. The investor who prioritizes growth will find VOO’s expanding dividend a powerful compounding tool.

Related reading: ETF guide for beginners · S&P 500 investment simulation guide

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