DON vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, SDY yields more: 2.30% (dividend yield) against 2.30% for DON. SDY is cheaper to own at 0.35% a year vs 0.38%. Over the same 18 years (Dec 2007 to Oct 2026), SDY returned 9.6% a year with distributions reinvested, and DON 9.5%.
SDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF2.30%dividend yield| Compared | DON | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 2.30% | 2.30% |
| Expense ratio | 0.38% | 0.35% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +15.7% | +20.2% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +15.8% | +15.8% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +8.3% | +8.3% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +9.5% | +10.3% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2007 | -50.0% | -42.2% |
| Share price since Dec 2007 | +231% | +192% |
| Pays | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | WisdomTree | State Street Investment Management |
| Assets | $4.0B | $23.9B |
| Started | 2006 | 2005 |
| Type | Mid-Cap Value | Mid-Cap Value |
Higher yield
SDY
2.30%
Lower cost
SDY
0.35%
Better total return
SDY
9.6%/yr
Smaller worst drop
SDY
-42.2%
Key facts: DON vs SDY
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, DON yields 2.30% (dividend yield) and SDY yields 2.30% (dividend yield).
- DON's expense ratio is 0.38% and SDY's is 0.35%: $38 vs $35 a year on $10,000.
- From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in DON grew to $54,933 (9.5% a year) and $10,000 in SDY to $56,373 (9.6% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -50.0% for DON and -42.2% for SDY.
- 0 of DON's top ten holdings are also in SDY's top ten.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "DON vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/don-vs-sdy
$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
DON became
$54,933
9.5% a year
SDY became
$56,373
9.6% a year
Year by year
| Year | DON | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +3.4% | +8.2% |
| 2024 | +13.9% | +8.4% |
| 2023 | +13.6% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | −4.7% | −0.5% |
| 2021 | +30.3% | +25.3% |
| 2020 | −5.4% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | +23.3% | +23.3% |
| 2018 | −8.2% | −2.7% |
| 2017 | +14.9% | +15.8% |
| 2016 | +20.4% | +20.3% |
| 2015 | −1.1% | −0.8% |
| 2014 | +15.3% | +13.8% |
| 2013 | +33.2% | +30.1% |
| 2012 | +13.6% | +11.6% |
| 2011 | +5.4% | +7.2% |
| 2010 | +21.7% | +16.4% |
| 2009 | +32.0% | +19.2% |
| 2008 | −32.4% | −22.9% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
No overlap in the top ten.
DON
- BBY Best Buy Co Inc1.6%
- APA APA Corp1.5%
- VTRS Viatris Inc1.5%
- DINO HF Sinclair Corp1.3%
- HAS Hasbro Inc1.3%
- BEN Franklin Templeton Inc1.3%
- PR Permian Resources Corp Class A1.2%
- SWK Stanley Black & Decker Inc1.1%
- AFG American Financial Group Inc1.1%
- SJM JM Smucker Co1.0%
SDY
- ACN Accenture PLC Class A4.0%
- VZ Verizon Communications Inc2.8%
- CVX Chevron Corp2.2%
- O Realty Income Corp1.9%
- PEP PepsiCo Inc1.8%
- MDT Medtronic PLC1.8%
- TGT Target Corp1.6%
- ADP Automatic Data Processing Inc1.5%
- NKE Nike Inc Class B1.5%
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp1.5%
DON vs SDY: questions
Is DON or SDY better?
It depends on the job. SDY pays more today (2.30% vs 2.30%), SDY costs less, and SDY has the better total return over Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, with SDY 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, DON or SDY?
SDY, at 2.30% against 2.30% for DON as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $230 vs $230 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
SDY. From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, it returned 9.6% a year with distributions reinvested, against 9.5% for DON. $10,000 became $56,373 vs $54,933.
Which is cheaper, DON or SDY?
SDY, with a 0.35% expense ratio against 0.38%.
Do DON and SDY 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. SDY leads on 7 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.