Dividend comparison
SDY vs CGDV: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF and Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SDY vs CGDV: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. CGDV is cheaper at 0.33% a year versus 0.35% for SDY. On $10,000 that is $2 a year less in fees.
- Income. SDY pays more income, yielding 2.42% over the last twelve months versus 1.23% for CGDV. That is about $119 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 3 years, CGDV returned 94.7% versus 47.1% for SDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,473 in CGDV and $14,714 in SDY.
- Risk. CGDV has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 3 years was -21.9%, against -15.2% for SDY.
- Diversification. SDY holds 155 positions and CGDV holds 58.
- Dividend growth. CGDV grew its yearly payout 7.0% a year over the last 2 years, versus 1.7% for SDY.
Bottom line: SDY fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-year returns and faster dividend growth.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SDY State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | CGDV Capital Group Dividend Value ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.42% | 1.23% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.78 | $0.60 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.9168 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.1522 on Oct 1, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 1.7% over 4 yrs | 7.0% over 2 yrs |
| Price | $156.10 | $49.17 |
| Dividend growth streak | 3 years | 2 years |
| Beta | 0.58 | 0.90 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -15.2% | -21.9% |
| Market cap | $21.52B | $38.84B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.33% |
| Assets under management | $21.52B | $38.84B |
| Number of holdings | 155 | 58 |
| Top 10 concentration | 20.7% | — |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SDY
$20.16/mo
$242 /yr at 2.42% yield
CGDV
$10.21/mo
$123 /yr at 1.23% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SDY pays quarterly; CGDV pays quarterly.
| Year | SDY | CGDV |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.6342 | $0.5649 |
| 2024 | $3.3824 | $0.5636 |
| 2023 | $3.2981 | $0.4932 |
| 2022 | $3.1952 | — |
| 2021 | $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 Feb 24, 2022 would now be worth $14,137 in SDY and $21,148 in CGDV.
| Period | SDY | CGDV |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.16% | 0.43% |
| 3 months | 0.83% | 0.78% |
| Year to date | 12.17% | 12.67% |
| 1 year | 11.40% | 16.68% |
| 3 years | 47.14% | 94.73% |
| 5 years | 40.37% | — |
- SDY
- CGDV
Both series indexed to 100 on 2022-02-24 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.
- SDY
- CGDV
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
Quick verdict
SDY fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. CGDV fits better if you care most about stronger 3-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 SDY vs CGDV fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SDY or CGDV better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SDY currently yields 2.42% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while CGDV yields 1.23%. 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 SDY and CGDV?
State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) 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, SDY or CGDV?
CGDV has the lower expense ratio. SDY charges 0.35% a year and CGDV charges 0.33%, a difference of $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SDY or CGDV?
Over the last 3 years, CGDV has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SDY returned 47.1% and CGDV returned 94.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SDY or CGDV?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, CGDV has been riskier: SDY fell as much as 15.2% and CGDV as much as 21.9%. Their betas are 0.58 and 0.90.
How often do SDY and CGDV pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9168 for SDY and $0.1522 for CGDV.
How much income does $10,000 in SDY vs CGDV generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SDY would generate roughly $20.16 per month ($242 annually). The same amount in CGDV would produce about $10.21 per month ($123 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SDY and CGDV?
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 SDY vs CGDV with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SDY and CGDV 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.