DVY vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 7, 2026, DVY yields more: 3.34% (dividend yield) against 2.35% for SDY. 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 DVY 8.9%.
DVYiShares Select Dividend ETF3.34%dividend yield
SDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF2.35%dividend yield| Compared | DVY | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 3.34% | 2.35% |
| Expense ratio | 0.38% | 0.35% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +20.9% | +20.2% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +20.1% | +15.8% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +10.5% | +8.3% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +10.7% | +10.3% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2007 | -51.9% | -42.2% |
| Share price since Dec 2007 | +152% | +192% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Assets | $23.7B | $23.9B |
| Started | 2003 | 2005 |
| Type | Mid-Cap Value | Mid-Cap Value |
Higher yield
DVY
3.34%
Lower cost
SDY
0.35%
Better total return
SDY
9.6%/yr
Smaller worst drop
SDY
-42.2%
Key facts: DVY vs SDY
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 7, 2026, DVY yields 3.34% (dividend yield) and SDY yields 2.35% (dividend yield).
- DVY'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 DVY grew to $49,734 (8.9% a year) and $10,000 in SDY to $56,373 (9.6% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -51.9% for DVY and -42.2% for SDY.
- 3 of DVY's top ten holdings are also in SDY's top ten, an overlap of at least 5% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "DVY vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 7, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/dvy-vs-sdy
$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
DVY became
$49,734
8.9% a year
SDY became
$56,373
9.6% a year
Year by year
| Year | DVY | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +11.6% | +8.2% |
| 2024 | +16.2% | +8.4% |
| 2023 | +1.1% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | +1.8% | −0.5% |
| 2021 | +31.7% | +25.3% |
| 2020 | −4.9% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | +22.6% | +23.3% |
| 2018 | −6.4% | −2.7% |
| 2017 | +14.8% | +15.8% |
| 2016 | +21.6% | +20.3% |
| 2015 | −2.1% | −0.8% |
| 2014 | +14.8% | +13.8% |
| 2013 | +28.9% | +30.1% |
| 2012 | +10.5% | +11.6% |
| 2011 | +11.8% | +7.2% |
| 2010 | +17.8% | +16.4% |
| 2009 | +11.2% | +19.2% |
| 2008 | −32.9% | −22.9% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
3 of the top ten overlap, at least 5% of each fund.
DVY
- PFE Pfizer Inc2.5%
- MO Altria Group Inc2.4%
- HPQ HP Inc2.2%
- PRU Prudential Financial Inc2.1%
- TROW T. Rowe Price Group Inc2.0%
- OKE ONEOK Inc1.8%
- TGT Target Corp1.7%
- VZ Verizon Communications Inc1.7%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.6%
- KMB Kimberly-Clark Corp1.6%
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%
DVY vs SDY: questions
Is DVY or SDY better?
It depends on the job. DVY pays more today (3.34% vs 2.35%), 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, DVY or SDY?
DVY, at 3.34% against 2.35% for SDY as of Nov 7, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $334 vs $235 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 8.9% for DVY. $10,000 became $56,373 vs $49,734.
Which is cheaper, DVY or SDY?
SDY, with a 0.35% expense ratio against 0.38%.
Do DVY and SDY hold the same things?
Partly. 3 of their top ten holdings match (VZ, TGT, CVX), at least 5% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. DVY leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 7, 2026.