Dividend comparison

DGRO vs DLN: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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DGRO vs DLN: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. DGRO is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.28% for DLN. On $10,000 that is $20 a year less in fees.
  • Income. DGRO pays more income, yielding 1.88% over the last twelve months versus 1.73% for DLN. That is about $15 more a year on $10,000. DGRO pays quarterly, DLN pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, DLN returned 77.7% versus 64.5% for DGRO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,769 in DLN and $16,454 in DGRO.
  • Risk. DGRO has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -19.3%, against -16.3% for DLN.
  • Diversification. DGRO holds 391 positions and DLN holds 305.
  • Dividend growth. DGRO grew its yearly payout 7.9% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.6% for DLN.
  • Size. DGRO is the larger fund with $44.2 billion in assets, against $6.3 billion for DLN.

Bottom line: DGRO fits better if you care most about lower fees and faster dividend growth. DLN fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricDGRO
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
DLN
WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund
Dividend yield (TTM)1.88%1.73%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.49$1.74
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.3850 on Sep 18, 2026$0.1950 on Sep 29, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 25, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.9% over 4 yrs5.6% over 4 yrs
Price$79.26$100.11
Dividend growth streak10 years—
Beta0.670.75
Max drawdown (5Y)-19.3%-16.3%
Market cap$43.96B$6.31B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.08%0.28%
Assets under management$44.19B$6.29B
Number of holdings391305
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

DGRO

$15.71/mo

$188 /yr at 1.88% yield

DLN

$14.44/mo

$173 /yr at 1.73% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. DGRO pays quarterly; DLN pays monthly.
YearDGRODLN
2025$1.4506$1.6805
2024$1.3851$1.5534
2023$1.3159$1.6150
2022$1.1679$1.5650
2021$1.0718$1.3531
Strategy: Dividend equity
Rules-based equity funds that screen for companies paying sustainable or rising dividends, aiming at income plus long-term share-price participation. The screen is what defines the fund: yield-ranked indexes deliver more cash now, dividend-growth indexes deliberately exclude the highest payers in favor of durability. Both approaches produce a sector mix that looks nothing like the broad market, typically heavier in financials, healthcare, staples and industrials.

Expect stretches of underperformance versus the broad market whenever leadership comes from the high-growth, low-yield companies these screens exclude.

What DGRO vs DLN actually do

DGRO
An iShares fund holding a wide set of US companies with a record of raising their dividends.

It tracks the Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, which requires at least five consecutive years of dividend growth, a payout ratio under 75%, a positive earnings forecast, no REITs, and excludes the top 10% of the universe by yield. The five-year requirement is looser than VIG's ten, so the portfolio is broader, running to several hundred names. Holdings are weighted by the total dollar value of dividends paid rather than by market cap, which tilts weight toward the largest actual dividend payers rather than the largest companies.

Suits an investor who wants dividend growth with more names and a slightly higher starting yield than a stricter growth screen delivers. Less suitable for someone who wants concentrated exposure to only the longest-running dividend raisers.

Dividend growth, broad

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,454 in DGRO and $17,769 in DLN.
PeriodDGRODLN
1 month3.08%1.54%
3 months2.75%3.27%
Year to date14.17%15.16%
1 year15.72%16.87%
3 years70.71%74.65%
5 years64.54%77.69%
  • DGRO
  • DLN
80133187202120222023202420252026165178

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • DGRO
  • DLN
0%6%12%18%24%Technology19.5%22.5%Financial Services19.7%17.1%Healthcare17.2%14.0%Consumer Defensive12.2%8.8%Financials19.2%Industrials11.2%7.3%Information Technology17.8%Health Care17.4%Energy5.8%8.2%Consumer Staples12.8%Other24.1%22.1%

Quick verdict

DGRO fits better if you care most about lower fees and faster dividend growth. DLN fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is DGRO or DLN better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DGRO currently yields 1.88% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DLN yields 1.73%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between DGRO and DLN?
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend Fund (DLN) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, DGRO or DLN?
DGRO has the lower expense ratio. DGRO charges 0.08% a year and DLN charges 0.28%, a difference of $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, DGRO or DLN?
Over the last 5 years, DLN has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: DGRO returned 64.5% and DLN returned 77.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, DGRO or DLN?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, DGRO has been riskier: DGRO fell as much as 19.3% and DLN as much as 16.3%. Their betas are 0.67 and 0.75.
How often do DGRO and DLN pay dividends?
DGRO pays quarterly and DLN pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs DLN generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $15.71 per month ($188 annually). The same amount in DLN would produce about $14.44 per month ($173 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both DGRO and DLN?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare DGRO vs DLN with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DGRO and DLN fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.