"Income returns" as a subset of "Investment returns" in Vanguard graphs

[edmundblackadder]

Vanguard has pretty graphs -- with a line in the explanatory tooltip I don't think I understand, and which I can't find a definition for. (Googling and searching this forum and bogleheads has been unhelpful, because the phrase "income returns" gets me basically every post in existence, but nothing specifically about this.)

I've attached a screenshot (with blurred numbers) of the tooltip I'm referring to, and if anyone has a simple explanation for what this phrase means, and how it's different from market gain/loss, that would be awesome.

[seattlecyclone]

"Income returns" would be the interest and dividends paid by your investments. "Market gain/loss" is the amount your shares changed in value. Add them up to get your total return.

[MustacheAndaHalf]

I agree with earlier poster.  The "interest return" is the part you're paying taxes on now (assuming a taxable account) in the form of dividends (stock funds) or interest (bond funds).  Until you sell, the price part of the return is unrealized gains (or losses).