Dividend comparison
DGRW vs SDY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund and State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
DGRW vs SDY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. DGRW is cheaper at 0.28% a year versus 0.35% for SDY. On $10,000 that is $7 a year less in fees.
- Income. SDY pays more income, yielding 2.42% over the last twelve months versus 1.19% for DGRW. That is about $122 more a year on $10,000. DGRW pays monthly, SDY pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, DGRW returned 72.9% versus 40.4% for SDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,290 in DGRW and $14,037 in SDY.
- Risk. DGRW has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -17.3%, against -15.2% for SDY.
- Diversification. DGRW holds 304 positions and SDY holds 155.
- Dividend growth. DGRW grew its yearly payout 2.5% a year over the last 4 years, versus 1.7% for SDY.
Bottom line: DGRW fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and broader diversification. SDY fits better if you care most about more income today.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | DGRW WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | SDY State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.19% | 2.42% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.19 | $3.78 |
| Payout frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.1700 on Sep 29, 2026 | $0.9168 on Sep 23, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 2.5% over 4 yrs | 1.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $99.40 | $156.10 |
| Dividend growth streak | 1 year | 3 years |
| Beta | 0.82 | 0.58 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -17.3% | -15.2% |
| Market cap | $17.11B | $21.52B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.28% | 0.35% |
| Assets under management | $17.08B | $21.52B |
| Number of holdings | 304 | 155 |
| Top 10 concentration | — | 20.7% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
DGRW
$9.96/mo
$119 /yr at 1.19% yield
SDY
$20.16/mo
$242 /yr at 2.42% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. DGRW pays monthly; SDY pays quarterly.
| Year | DGRW | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.3165 | $3.6342 |
| 2024 | $1.2103 | $3.3824 |
| 2023 | $1.2250 | $3.2981 |
| 2022 | $1.3002 | $3.1952 |
| 2021 | $1.1906 | $3.3913 |
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.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $17,290 in DGRW and $14,037 in SDY.
| Period | DGRW | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.50% | 4.16% |
| 3 months | 3.68% | 0.83% |
| Year to date | 11.15% | 12.17% |
| 1 year | 11.56% | 11.40% |
| 3 years | 63.57% | 47.14% |
| 5 years | 72.90% | 40.37% |
- DGRW
- SDY
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.
- DGRW
- SDY
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
Quick verdict
DGRW fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and broader diversification. SDY fits better if you care most about more income today. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how DGRW vs SDY fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is DGRW or SDY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DGRW currently yields 1.19% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SDY yields 2.42%. 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 DGRW and SDY?
WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRW) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) 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, DGRW or SDY?
DGRW has the lower expense ratio. DGRW charges 0.28% a year and SDY charges 0.35%, a difference of $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, DGRW or SDY?
Over the last 5 years, DGRW has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: DGRW returned 72.9% and SDY returned 40.4%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, DGRW or SDY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, DGRW has been riskier: DGRW fell as much as 17.3% and SDY as much as 15.2%. Their betas are 0.82 and 0.58.
How often do DGRW and SDY pay dividends?
DGRW pays monthly and SDY pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRW vs SDY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in DGRW would generate roughly $9.96 per month ($119 annually). The same amount in SDY would produce about $20.16 per month ($242 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both DGRW and SDY?
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 DGRW vs SDY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how DGRW and SDY 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.