Dividend comparison
HDV vs SDY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core High Dividend ETF and State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
HDV vs SDY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. HDV is cheaper at 0.08% a year versus 0.35% for SDY. On $10,000 that is $27 a year less in fees.
- Income. HDV pays more income, yielding 2.83% over the last twelve months versus 2.42% for SDY. That is about $41 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, HDV returned 82.2% versus 40.4% for SDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,215 in HDV and $14,037 in SDY.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -15.4% for HDV and -15.2% for SDY from peak to trough.
- Diversification. SDY holds 155 positions and HDV holds 74. The ten largest positions make up 57.4% of HDV and 20.7% of SDY.
- Overlap. At least 28% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 27 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. HDV grew its yearly payout 2.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 1.7% for SDY.
Bottom line: HDV fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. SDY fits better if you care most about broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | HDV iShares Core High Dividend ETF | SDY State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.83% | 2.42% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.85 | $3.78 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.0560 on Sep 21, 2026 | $0.9168 on Sep 23, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 2.8% over 4 yrs | 1.7% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $30.11 | $156.10 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 3 years |
| Beta | 0.30 | 0.58 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -15.4% | -15.2% |
| Market cap | $15.63B | $21.52B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.35% |
| Assets under management | $15.52B | $21.52B |
| Number of holdings | 74 | 155 |
| Top 10 concentration | 57.4% | 20.7% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
HDV
$23.58/mo
$283 /yr at 2.83% yield
SDY
$20.16/mo
$242 /yr at 2.42% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. HDV pays quarterly; SDY pays quarterly.
| Year | HDV | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.7821 | $3.6342 |
| 2024 | $0.8230 | $3.3824 |
| 2023 | $0.7787 | $3.2981 |
| 2022 | $0.7431 | $3.1952 |
| 2021 | $0.7016 | $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 $18,215 in HDV and $14,037 in SDY.
| Period | HDV | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.77% | 4.16% |
| 3 months | 7.46% | 0.83% |
| Year to date | 26.57% | 12.17% |
| 1 year | 26.83% | 11.40% |
| 3 years | 70.79% | 47.14% |
| 5 years | 82.15% | 40.37% |
- HDV
- 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.
- HDV
- SDY
HDV vs SDY holdings overlap
At least 28% overlap by weight, with 27 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | HDV weight | SDY weight |
|---|---|---|
| VZVERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC | 5.22% | 2.92% |
| CVXCHEVRON | 7.21% | 2.16% |
| MDTMEDTRONIC PLC | 1.83% | 1.84% |
| PEPPEPSICO | 3.95% | 1.83% |
| XOMEXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP | 9.54% | 1.51% |
| PGPROCTER & GAMBLE | 5.49% | 1.37% |
| ABBVABBVIE | 6.79% | 1.34% |
| SOSOUTHERN | 1.79% | 1.31% |
| KOCOCA-COLA | 4.43% | 1.29% |
| ABTABBOTT LABORATORIES | 2.11% | 1.25% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
HDV74 holdings total
Quick verdict
HDV fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. SDY fits better if you care most about broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how HDV vs SDY fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is HDV or SDY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. HDV currently yields 2.83% 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 HDV and SDY?
iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is an ETF listed on AMEX. 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, HDV or SDY?
HDV has the lower expense ratio. HDV charges 0.08% a year and SDY charges 0.35%, a difference of $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, HDV or SDY?
Over the last 5 years, HDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: HDV returned 82.2% and SDY returned 40.4%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, HDV or SDY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, HDV has been riskier: HDV fell as much as 15.4% and SDY as much as 15.2%. Their betas are 0.30 and 0.58.
How much do HDV and SDY overlap?
At least 28% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 27 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are VZ, CVX, MDT. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do HDV and SDY pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.0560 for HDV and $0.9168 for SDY.
How much income does $10,000 in HDV vs SDY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in HDV would generate roughly $23.58 per month ($283 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 HDV 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 HDV vs SDY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how HDV 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.