DES vs SMDV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, SMDV yields more: 2.31% (dividend yield) against 2.30% for DES. DES is cheaper to own at 0.38% a year vs 0.40%. Over the same 11 years (Feb 2015 to Oct 2026), SMDV returned 7.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and DES 7.4%.
| Compared | DES | SMDV |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 2.30% | 2.31% |
| Expense ratio | 0.38% | 0.40% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +23.0% | +16.9% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +16.3% | +14.1% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +7.1% | +5.7% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +8.0% | +7.2% |
| Worst drop since Feb 2015 | -38.1% | -24.7% |
| Share price since Feb 2015 | +64% | +85% |
| Pays | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | WisdomTree | ProShares |
| Assets | $2.1B | $668.1M |
| Started | 2006 | 2015 |
| Type | Small Value | Small Value |
Higher yield
SMDV
2.31%
Lower cost
DES
0.38%
Better total return
SMDV
7.8%/yr
Smaller worst drop
SMDV
-24.7%
Key facts: DES vs SMDV
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, DES yields 2.30% (dividend yield) and SMDV yields 2.31% (dividend yield).
- DES's expense ratio is 0.38% and SMDV's is 0.40%: $38 vs $40 a year on $10,000.
- From Feb 2015 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in DES grew to $22,984 (7.4% a year) and $10,000 in SMDV to $24,020 (7.8% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -38.1% for DES and -24.7% for SMDV.
- 0 of DES's top ten holdings are also in SMDV's top ten.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "DES vs SMDV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/des-vs-smdv
$10,000 in each, Feb 2015 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
DES became
$22,984
7.4% a year
SMDV became
$24,020
7.8% a year
Year by year
| Year | DES | SMDV |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | +9.7% | +7.0% |
| 2023 | +16.0% | +9.0% |
| 2022 | −11.0% | −5.9% |
| 2021 | +26.5% | +19.0% |
| 2020 | −4.3% | −4.8% |
| 2019 | +20.3% | +17.2% |
| 2018 | −12.8% | −0.5% |
| 2017 | +8.6% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | +31.4% | +35.7% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
No overlap in the top ten.
DES
- TFSL TFS Financial Corp1.2%
- PBF PBF Energy Inc Class A1.2%
- EPR EPR Properties1.1%
- NWE NorthWestern Energy Group Inc1.1%
- PTEN Patterson-UTI Energy Inc1.0%
- SON Sonoco Products Co0.9%
- OUT Outfront Media Inc0.9%
- TNL Travel+Leisure Co0.8%
- AVT Avnet Inc0.8%
- KGS Kodiak Gas Services Inc0.8%
SMDV
- PRGO Perrigo Co PLC2.2%
- MKTX MarketAxess Holdings Inc2.2%
- HNI HNI Corp1.7%
- SCL Stepan Co1.7%
- BMI Badger Meter Inc1.7%
- IOSP Innospec Inc1.7%
- WOR Worthington Enterprises Inc1.7%
- ABM ABM Industries Inc1.7%
- GFF Griffon Corp1.7%
- APOG Apogee Enterprises Inc1.7%
DES vs SMDV: questions
Is DES or SMDV better?
It depends on the job. SMDV pays more today (2.31% vs 2.30%), DES costs less, and SMDV has the better total return over Feb 2015 to Oct 2026, with SMDV holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, DES or SMDV?
SMDV, at 2.31% against 2.30% for DES as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $231 vs $230 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
SMDV. From Feb 2015 to Oct 2026, it returned 7.8% a year with distributions reinvested, against 7.4% for DES. $10,000 became $24,020 vs $22,984.
Which is cheaper, DES or SMDV?
DES, with a 0.38% expense ratio against 0.40%.
Do DES and SMDV hold the same things?
Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. DES leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.