Dividend comparison

DGRO vs RDVY: Which Is Better for Income?

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

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DGRO vs RDVY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. DGRO is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.47% for RDVY. On $10,000 that is $39 a year less in fees.
  • Income. DGRO pays more income, yielding 1.88% over the last twelve months versus 0.85% for RDVY. That is about $103 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, RDVY returned 69.8% versus 64.5% for DGRO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,979 in RDVY and $16,454 in DGRO.
  • Risk. RDVY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -25.3%, against -19.3% for DGRO.
  • Diversification. DGRO holds 391 positions and RDVY holds 72.
  • Dividend growth. RDVY grew its yearly payout 9.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 7.9% for DGRO.

Bottom line: DGRO fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. RDVY fits better if you care most about 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
RDVY
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.88%0.85%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.49$0.68
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.3850 on Sep 18, 2026$0.1521 on Sep 30, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 15, 2026Sep 24, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.9% over 4 yrs9.4% over 4 yrs
Price$79.26$79.63
Dividend growth streak10 years—
Beta0.670.94
Max drawdown (5Y)-19.3%-25.3%
Market cap$43.96B$25.45B
ExchangeAMEXNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.08%0.47%
Assets under management$44.19B$25.45B
Number of holdings39172
Top 10 concentration—22.2%
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

RDVY

$7.12/mo

$85 /yr at 0.85% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. DGRO pays quarterly; RDVY pays quarterly.
YearDGRORDVY
2025$1.4506$0.7733
2024$1.3851$0.9722
2023$1.3159$1.0797
2022$1.1679$0.9700
2021$1.0718$0.5390
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 RDVY 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 $16,979 in RDVY.
PeriodDGRORDVY
1 month3.08%0.40%
3 months2.75%-0.46%
Year to date14.17%14.63%
1 year15.72%18.85%
3 years70.71%86.40%
5 years64.54%69.79%
  • DGRO
  • RDVY
73129185202120222023202420252026165170

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
  • RDVY
0%10%19%29%38%Financial Services19.7%38.0%Technology19.5%27.1%Industrials11.2%12.4%Healthcare17.2%3.9%Financials19.2%Information Technology17.8%Health Care17.4%Consumer Cyclical5.9%9.7%Consumer Defensive12.2%2.4%Consumer Staples12.8%Other24.1%8.0%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

RDVY72 holdings total

NameWeight
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc.2.35%
VVisa Inc. (Class A)2.26%
ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc.2.26%
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation2.23%
EXPEExpedia Group, Inc.2.23%
ACNAccenture plc2.21%
LRCXLam Research Corporation2.18%
ROSTRoss Stores, Inc.2.17%
METAMeta Platforms, Inc. (Class A)2.16%
AMATApplied Materials, Inc.2.14%

Quick verdict

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

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Frequently asked questions

Is DGRO or RDVY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DGRO currently yields 1.88% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while RDVY yields 0.85%. 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 RDVY?
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, DGRO or RDVY?
DGRO has the lower expense ratio. DGRO charges 0.08% a year and RDVY charges 0.47%, a difference of $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, DGRO or RDVY?
Over the last 5 years, RDVY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: DGRO returned 64.5% and RDVY returned 69.8%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, DGRO or RDVY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, RDVY has been riskier: DGRO fell as much as 19.3% and RDVY as much as 25.3%. Their betas are 0.67 and 0.94.
How often do DGRO and RDVY pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.3850 for DGRO and $0.1521 for RDVY.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs RDVY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $15.71 per month ($188 annually). The same amount in RDVY would produce about $7.12 per month ($85 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both DGRO and RDVY?
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 RDVY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DGRO and RDVY 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.