These 3 High-Yield Dividend ETFs Are Crushing the S&P 500. Here's the Best Buy for April.

By Daniel Foelber – Mar 26, 2026 at 8:15AM ESTKey PointsNotable differences exist among some popular high-yield exchange-traded funds (ETFs).Energy stocks are driving big gains in two high-yield ETFs run by Schwab and iShares.The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF prioritizes dividend quality over quantity.The technology, financial, communication, and consumer discretionary sectors account for about 65% of the S&P 500. And all four sectors are down between 4.9% and 10.8% year to date. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with outsize exposure to value stocks are crushing the S&P 500 this year. Especially ETFs with significant energy stock holdings. Here are three ETFs that stand out as buys in April, and how you can decide which one aligns with your risk tolerance and investment objectives. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD +0.48%) is heavily concentrated in the energy, consumer staples, and healthcare sectors because many companies in these sectors use dividends to return capital to shareholders. Betting big on value sectors helps the ETF achieve a sizable 3.3% yield. Over the long term, these lower-growth sectors tend to underperform the S&P 500. But these sectors shine during market sell-offs, when investors look for lower-risk value stocks. ^IXE data by YCharts As you can see in the chart, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is up over 10% year to date -- largely thanks to its 19.9% weighing in the red-hot energy sector. By comparison, the S&P 500 is down 5% year to date, while the consumer discretionary and financial sectors are down double digits. ExpandNYSEMKT: SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFToday's Change(0.48%) $0.15Current Price$30.53Key Data PointsDay's Range$30.39 - $30.6452wk Range$23.87 - $31.95Volume3.3K 2. iShares Core High Dividend ETF Like the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, the largest sector weighting in the iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV +0.41%) is energy. But a key difference is that the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is more spread out among oil major Chevron, several exploration and production companies, and refiners. The vast majority of the iShares Core High Dividend ETF's energy sector weighting, on the other hand, is in ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips -- which together make up 18.3% of the entire fund. Sector Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF iShares Core High Dividend ETF Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF Energy 19.9% 23.3% 9.6% Consumer staples 18.5% 24% 9.4% Healthcare 16.2% 17.3% 12.9% Industrials 12.1% 2% 13.8% Financials 9.7% 10.7% 19.4% Consumer discretionary 8.5% 6% 10.1% Technology/ communications 12.5% 6.1% 16% Materials 2.7% 1.1% 2.3% Utilities 0% 9.2% 6.5% Data sources: Charles Schwab, BlackRock, Vanguard. Similarly, consumer staples stocks Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Altria dominate the iShares Core High Dividend ETF's consumer staples exposure -- accounting for a combined 19.6% of the ETF. And Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Merck make up a combined 15.6% of the ETF, which is essentially the entire healthcare position. In this vein, the iShares Core High Dividend ETF is a great buy for investors who want exposure to a handful of industry-leading dividend-paying value stocks rather than allocating toward a larger number of stocks. The iShares Core High Dividend ETF yields 2.8%, which is still high, but lower than the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF. ExpandNYSEMKT: HDViShares Trust - iShares Core High Dividend ETFToday's Change(0.41%) $0.55Current Price$134.15Key Data PointsDay's Range$133.57 - $134.5152wk Range$106.00 - $140.89Volume196 3.

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM +0.49%) has the lowest expense ratio of the ETFs in this list at just 0.04% compared to 0.06% for the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and 0.08% for the iShares Core High Dividend ETF. But it also has the lowest yield of 2.3%. The major difference is the sector allocation -- with the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF having far less exposure to energy and consumer staples -- preferring to unlock passive income from high-quality tech stocks like Broadcom or financial powerhouses like JPMorgan Chase. ExpandNYSEMKT: VYMVanguard High Dividend Yield ETFToday's Change(0.49%) $0.73Current Price$148.09Key Data PointsDay's Range$147.41 - $148.7452wk Range$112.05 - $157.29Volume1.6K But financials and tech have been under pressure in 2026, so it's unsurprising that the fund is barely up year to date. Even with this year's muted gains and a lower yield, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF is still in a virtual tie with the iShares Core High Dividend ETF in five-year total return (capital gains plus dividends), with both funds outperforming the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF. All told, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF is a great buy for investors who value diversification from quality dividend-paying blue chip stocks.Read NextMar 24, 2026 •By Katie Brockman3 Unstoppable Vanguard ETFs to Load Up On if the U.S. Enters a RecessionMar 20, 2026 •By Stefon Walters1 Dividend ETF That Could Turn $500 Monthly Into a $725,000 Portfolio That Pays $21,750 AnnuallyMar 17, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo5 Best High Dividend Mutual Funds to Buy in 2026Mar 13, 2026 •By Daniel FoelberThe Largest Stock Holding in the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF Just Delivered Blowout Earnings. Here's Why the ETF Is Crushing the S&P 500 in 2026 and Worth Buying in March.Mar 12, 2026 •By Sara AppinoVYM Plays It Broad and Safe, FDVV Adds Tech Titans Like Nvidia to the Dividend MixMar 12, 2026 •By Jake LerchIncome-Oriented ETFs: VYM Offers Greater Diversification, While HDV Boasts a Higher YieldAbout the AuthorDaniel Foelber is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst with extensive experience covering the broader stock market and publicly traded companies across energy, industrials, utilities, materials, technology, communications, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, and financial stocks. Daniel looks for industry leaders offering compelling growth, value, or dividends to generate passive income. He has also written for energy trade publications and helped build oil and gas training modules. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a certificate in personal financial planning from the University of Houston. He believes the best investors are those who focus on fundamentals, remain steady through volatility, and filter out market noise.TMFpalomino2Stocks MentionedVanguard High Dividend Yield ETFNYSEMKT: VYM$148.09(+0.49%)+$0.73Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFNYSEMKT: SCHD$30.53(+0.48%)+$0.15iShares Trust - iShares Core High Dividend ETFNYSEMKT: HDV$134.15(+0.41%)+$0.55*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.