Dividend comparison
SDY vs DIVB: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF and iShares Core Dividend ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SDY vs DIVB: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. DIVB is cheaper at 0.05% a year versus 0.35% for SDY. On $10,000 that is $30 a year less in fees.
- Income. SDY pays more income, yielding 2.42% over the last twelve months versus 2.13% for DIVB. That is about $29 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, DIVB returned 87.2% versus 40.4% for SDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,719 in DIVB and $14,037 in SDY.
- Risk. DIVB has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -21.1%, against -15.2% for SDY.
- Diversification. DIVB holds 381 positions and SDY holds 155.
- Dividend growth. DIVB grew its yearly payout 17.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 1.7% for SDY.
- Size. SDY is the larger fund with $21.5 billion in assets, against $2.1 billion for DIVB.
Bottom line: SDY fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. DIVB fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification.
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 | DIVB iShares Core Dividend ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.42% | 2.13% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.78 | $1.48 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.9168 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.4242 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 1.7% over 4 yrs | 17.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $156.10 | $69.69 |
| Dividend growth streak | 3 years | 1 year |
| Beta | 0.58 | 0.88 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -15.2% | -21.1% |
| Market cap | $21.52B | $1.59B |
| Exchange | AMEX | CBOE |
| Expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.05% |
| Assets under management | $21.52B | $2.14B |
| Number of holdings | 155 | 381 |
| 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
DIVB
$17.73/mo
$213 /yr at 2.13% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SDY pays quarterly; DIVB pays quarterly.
| Year | SDY | DIVB |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.6342 | $1.3281 |
| 2024 | $3.3824 | $1.2369 |
| 2023 | $3.2981 | $1.3070 |
| 2022 | $3.1952 | $0.7584 |
| 2021 | $3.3913 | $0.6990 |
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 $14,037 in SDY and $18,719 in DIVB.
| Period | SDY | DIVB |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.16% | 4.11% |
| 3 months | 0.83% | 9.11% |
| Year to date | 12.17% | 31.12% |
| 1 year | 11.40% | 33.61% |
| 3 years | 47.14% | 101.94% |
| 5 years | 40.37% | 87.19% |
- SDY
- DIVB
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.
- SDY
- DIVB
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
Quick verdict
SDY fits better if you care most about more income today and smaller drawdowns. DIVB fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and 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 SDY vs DIVB fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SDY or DIVB better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SDY currently yields 2.42% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DIVB yields 2.13%. 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 DIVB?
State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares Core Dividend ETF (DIVB) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SDY or DIVB?
DIVB has the lower expense ratio. SDY charges 0.35% a year and DIVB charges 0.05%, a difference of $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SDY or DIVB?
Over the last 5 years, DIVB has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SDY returned 40.4% and DIVB returned 87.2%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SDY or DIVB?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, DIVB has been riskier: SDY fell as much as 15.2% and DIVB as much as 21.1%. Their betas are 0.58 and 0.88.
How often do SDY and DIVB pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9168 for SDY and $0.4242 for DIVB.
How much income does $10,000 in SDY vs DIVB generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SDY would generate roughly $20.16 per month ($242 annually). The same amount in DIVB would produce about $17.73 per month ($213 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SDY and DIVB?
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 DIVB with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SDY and DIVB 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.