Here's how much the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) has paid in dividends over the past 5 years

How much dividend income does the VAS ETF throw off exactly?

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The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) doesn't hold the mantle of the most popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX for nothing.

There's little doubt that this ETF's unique structure in being the only fund to track the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) rather than the more popular S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), plays a role here. As does the brand reputation of (the famously not-for-profit) Vanguard.

But dividend distributions surely play a role here too.

After all, the ASX share market has a well-earned reputation as a bountiful source of dividend income. Thus, an index fund that tracks ASX shares will, by definition, reflect this. Just consider the VAS ETF's top holdings.

Big four banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) dominate VAS' weighting, as does the dividend machine that is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

But let's take a deeper dive and look at the numbers.

Five years of VAS dividend distributions

So VAS pays out dividend distributions every quarter. Here's a summary of those payments over the past five years:

Date (quarter ending)VAS Distribution (cents per unit)
30 June 2022215.95
31 March 2022199.59
31 December 202169.65
30 September 2021140.73
30 June 202155.64
31 March 202177
31 December 202043.42
30 September 202056.84
30 June 202020.6
31 March 202067.27
31 December 201972.14
30 September 2019107.1
30 June 201982.14
31 March 201991.59
31 December 201871.06
30 September 2018112.74
30 June 2018101.73
31 March 201866.53
31 December 201768.1
30 September 2017100.88

If any reader would like a more concise version of this data, here it is:

  • For the 12 months ending 30 June 2022, VAS paid out $6.26 in distributions per unit.
  • For the 12 months to 30 June 2021, it was $2.33 per unit.
  • The 12 months to June 30 2020 saw a total of $2.67 per unit.
  • For the 12 months to 30 June 2019, it was a sum of $3.58 per unit.
  • The 12 months to 30 June 2018 had VAS pay out $3.37 in distributions per unit.

Why so bumpy?

So what is immediately obvious is the massive dividend distribution haul investors have enjoyed over the past 12 months compared to prior years. This probably comes down to a couple of factors.

Firstly, the past 12 months have seen many ASX shares, especially the big four banks, raise their dividends to well above what was being paid out during the worst months and years of the pandemic.

Secondly, since ending its London dual-listing earlier this year and rehoming to the ASX in full, BHP now enjoys a far greater weighting in the ASX 300 Index than it used to.

As such, index ETFs like VAS now hold far more BHP shares, which is currently one of the most generous dividend-paying shares on the market, as a proportion of its overall portfolio today.

So that's a summary of VAS's dividend distribution history over the past five years. The most recent four distributions give this ETF a trailing yield of 7.07%.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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