MGOV vs VMBS
First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF compared with Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund ETF Shares on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
MGOV
First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
VMBS
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund ETF Shares
TTM yield · Monthly
Quick take
- MGOV yields more today: 4.88% vs 4.28% (forward).
- Both pay every month.
- Over the last year MGOV delivered the higher total return: +2.6% vs +2.5% (price change plus payouts).
- VMBS is cheaper to own: 0.03% vs 0.49% expense ratio.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | MGOV | VMBS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $19.85 | $45.82 |
| TTM yield | 4.88% | 4.28% |
| Forward yield | 4.88% | 4.28% |
| Annual payout per share | $0.968 | $1.959 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 20, 2026 (est.) | Oct 1, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.49% | 0.03% |
| 1-year payout growth | — | — |
| 5-year payout CAGR | — | — |
| Consecutive years of increases | — | — |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 93/100 | 97/100 |
| 1-year total return | +2.6% | +2.5% |
| 1-year price return | -2.1% | -1.7% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 101.2M | 17.6B |
| Years paying | 3.0 | 16.7 |
| Sector / category | Government Mortgage-Backed Bond | Government Mortgage-Backed Bond |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| MGOV | VMBS | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 503.7 | 218.2 |
| Income per year | $488 | $428 |
| Income per month (avg) | $41 | $36 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model MGOV · Model VMBS
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGOV Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | $0.0807 | Est. |
| MGOV Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | $0.0807 | Est. |
| MGOV Nov 19, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $0.0807 | Est. |
| VMBS Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | $0.1633 | Est. |
| VMBS Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 | $0.1633 | Est. |
| VMBS Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 2, 2026 | $0.1633 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
MGOVVMBS
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, MGOV or VMBS?
MGOV currently has the higher trailing yield: MGOV yields 4.88% and VMBS yields 4.28%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do MGOV and VMBS pay?
MGOV pays every month and VMBS pays every month. MGOV's next ex-date is Sep 20, 2026 and VMBS's is Oct 1, 2026.
Is MGOV or VMBS better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. MGOV and VMBS differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.