LVHD vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, LVHD yields more: 3.26% (dividend yield) against 2.30% for SDY. LVHD is cheaper to own at 0.27% a year vs 0.35%. Over the same 10 years (Dec 2015 to Oct 2026), SDY returned 10.7% a year with distributions reinvested, and LVHD 9.1%.
SDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF2.30%dividend yield| Compared | LVHD | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 3.26% | 2.30% |
| Expense ratio | 0.27% | 0.35% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +16.6% | +20.2% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +15.1% | +15.8% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +7.6% | +8.3% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +8.6% | +10.3% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2015 | -24.3% | -25.1% |
| Share price since Dec 2015 | +82% | +118% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | Franklin Templeton, Inc | State Street Investment Management |
| Assets | $642.5M | $23.9B |
| Started | 2015 | 2005 |
| Type | Mid-Cap Value | Mid-Cap Value |
Higher yield
LVHD
3.26%
Lower cost
LVHD
0.27%
Better total return
SDY
10.7%/yr
Smaller worst drop
LVHD
-24.3%
Key facts: LVHD vs SDY
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, LVHD yields 3.26% (dividend yield) and SDY yields 2.30% (dividend yield).
- LVHD's expense ratio is 0.27% and SDY's is 0.35%: $27 vs $35 a year on $10,000.
- From Dec 2015 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in LVHD grew to $25,637 (9.1% a year) and $10,000 in SDY to $29,991 (10.7% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -24.3% for LVHD and -25.1% for SDY.
- 3 of LVHD's top ten holdings are also in SDY's top ten, an overlap of at least 7% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "LVHD vs SDY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/lvhd-vs-sdy
$10,000 in each, Dec 2015 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
LVHD became
$25,637
9.1% a year
SDY became
$29,991
10.7% a year
Year by year
| Year | LVHD | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +7.5% | +8.2% |
| 2024 | +10.2% | +8.4% |
| 2023 | −0.9% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | −1.8% | −0.5% |
| 2021 | +26.9% | +25.3% |
| 2020 | −1.3% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | +23.0% | +23.3% |
| 2018 | −5.6% | −2.7% |
| 2017 | +12.4% | +15.8% |
| 2016 | +17.8% | +20.3% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
3 of the top ten overlap, at least 7% of each fund.
LVHD
- CVX Chevron Corp2.9%
- KO Coca-Cola Co2.9%
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson2.8%
- MO Altria Group Inc2.8%
- PG Procter & Gamble Co2.7%
- KMB Kimberly-Clark Corp2.6%
- VZ Verizon Communications Inc2.5%
- LMT Lockheed Martin Corp2.5%
- PEP PepsiCo Inc2.5%
- USB U.S. Bancorp2.4%
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%
LVHD vs SDY: questions
Is LVHD or SDY better?
It depends on the job. LVHD pays more today (3.26% vs 2.30%), LVHD costs less, and SDY has the better total return over Dec 2015 to Oct 2026, with LVHD 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, LVHD or SDY?
LVHD, at 3.26% against 2.30% for SDY as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $326 vs $230 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
SDY. From Dec 2015 to Oct 2026, it returned 10.7% a year with distributions reinvested, against 9.1% for LVHD. $10,000 became $29,991 vs $25,637.
Which is cheaper, LVHD or SDY?
LVHD, with a 0.27% expense ratio against 0.35%.
Do LVHD and SDY hold the same things?
Partly. 3 of their top ten holdings match (VZ, CVX, PEP), at least 7% 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. SDY leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.