Dividend comparison

DGRO vs FDVV: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and Fidelity High Dividend ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

Start freeOpen interactive compareSee pricing
DGRO vs FDVV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. DGRO is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.15% for FDVV. On $10,000 that is $7 a year less in fees.
  • Income. FDVV pays more income, yielding 2.77% over the last twelve months versus 1.88% for DGRO. That is about $89 more a year on $10,000. DGRO pays quarterly, FDVV pays monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, FDVV returned 80.6% versus 64.5% for DGRO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,061 in FDVV and $16,454 in DGRO.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -19.3% for DGRO and -20.2% for FDVV from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. DGRO holds 391 positions and FDVV holds 119.
  • Dividend growth. FDVV grew its yearly payout 10.7% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.9% for DGRO.
  • Size. DGRO is the larger fund with $44.2 billion in assets, against $10.2 billion for FDVV.

Bottom line: DGRO fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification. FDVV fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricDGRO
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
FDVV
Fidelity High Dividend ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.88%2.77%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.49$1.71
Payout frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.3850 on Sep 18, 2026$0.3620 on Sep 22, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.9% over 4 yrs10.7% over 4 yrs
Price$79.26$61.84
Dividend growth streak10 years1 year
Beta0.670.78
Max drawdown (5Y)-19.3%-20.2%
Market cap$43.96B$10.17B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.08%0.15%
Assets under management$44.19B$10.17B
Number of holdings391119
Top 10 concentration—36.5%
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

FDVV

$23.10/mo

$277 /yr at 2.77% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. DGRO pays quarterly; FDVV pays monthly.
YearDGROFDVV
2025$1.4506$1.6360
2024$1.3851$1.4700
2023$1.3159$1.5920
2022$1.1679$1.2830
2021$1.0718$1.0880
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 FDVV 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 $18,061 in FDVV.
PeriodDGROFDVV
1 month3.08%-0.32%
3 months2.75%-0.51%
Year to date14.17%9.08%
1 year15.72%10.45%
3 years70.71%73.46%
5 years64.54%80.61%
  • DGRO
  • FDVV
79137195202120222023202420252026165181

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
  • FDVV
0%8%16%24%32%Technology19.5%31.7%Information Technology17.8%31.2%Financials19.2%19.4%Financial Services19.7%18.4%Consumer Staples12.8%10.9%Consumer Defensive12.2%10.9%Health Care17.4%3.5%Healthcare17.2%3.5%Consumer Discretionary6.0%11.7%Consumer Cyclical5.9%11.8%Other29.2%23.1%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

FDVV119 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA CORP7.21%
AAPLAPPLE INC7.06%
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP5.72%
DELLDELL TECHNOLOGIES INC CL C3.05%
JPMJPMORGAN CHASE & CO2.74%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.70%
KOCOCA COLA CO2.16%
PMPHILIP MORRIS INTL INC1.99%
GOOGLALPHABET INC CL A1.92%
PGPROCTER & GAMBLE CO1.91%

Quick verdict

DGRO fits better if you care most about lower fees and broader diversification. FDVV fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how DGRO vs FDVV fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Start freeInteractive DRIP compare

Frequently asked questions

Is DGRO or FDVV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DGRO currently yields 1.88% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while FDVV yields 2.77%. 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 FDVV?
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) 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 FDVV?
DGRO has the lower expense ratio. DGRO charges 0.08% a year and FDVV charges 0.15%, a difference of $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, DGRO or FDVV?
Over the last 5 years, FDVV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: DGRO returned 64.5% and FDVV returned 80.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, DGRO or FDVV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, FDVV has been riskier: DGRO fell as much as 19.3% and FDVV as much as 20.2%. Their betas are 0.67 and 0.78.
How often do DGRO and FDVV pay dividends?
DGRO pays quarterly and FDVV pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs FDVV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $15.71 per month ($188 annually). The same amount in FDVV would produce about $23.10 per month ($277 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both DGRO and FDVV?
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 FDVV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DGRO and FDVV 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.

Related comparisons

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.