Dividend comparison
SDY vs RDVY: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF and First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SDY vs RDVY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SDY is cheaper at 0.35% a year versus 0.47% for RDVY. On $10,000 that is $12 a year less in fees.
- Income. SDY pays more income, yielding 2.42% over the last twelve months versus 0.85% for RDVY. That is about $156 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, RDVY returned 69.8% versus 40.4% for SDY, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,979 in RDVY and $14,037 in SDY.
- Risk. RDVY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -25.3%, against -15.2% for SDY.
- Diversification. SDY holds 155 positions and RDVY holds 72. The ten largest positions make up 20.7% of SDY and 22.1% of RDVY.
- Overlap. At least 9% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 10 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. RDVY grew its yearly payout 9.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 1.7% for SDY.
Bottom line: SDY 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.
| Metric | SDY State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | RDVY First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.42% | 0.85% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.78 | $0.68 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.9168 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.1521 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 1.7% over 4 yrs | 9.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $156.10 | $79.63 |
| Dividend growth streak | 3 years | — |
| Beta | 0.58 | 0.94 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -15.2% | -25.3% |
| Market cap | $21.52B | $25.45B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.35% | 0.47% |
| Assets under management | $21.52B | $25.45B |
| Number of holdings | 155 | 72 |
| Top 10 concentration | 20.7% | 22.1% |
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
RDVY
$7.12/mo
$85 /yr at 0.85% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SDY pays quarterly; RDVY pays quarterly.
| Year | SDY | RDVY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.6342 | $0.7733 |
| 2024 | $3.3824 | $0.9722 |
| 2023 | $3.2981 | $1.0797 |
| 2022 | $3.1952 | $0.9700 |
| 2021 | $3.3913 | $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.
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 $16,979 in RDVY.
| Period | SDY | RDVY |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.16% | 0.40% |
| 3 months | 0.83% | -0.46% |
| Year to date | 12.17% | 14.63% |
| 1 year | 11.40% | 18.85% |
| 3 years | 47.14% | 86.40% |
| 5 years | 40.37% | 69.79% |
- SDY
- RDVY
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
- RDVY
SDY vs RDVY holdings overlap
At least 9% overlap by weight, with 10 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 | SDY weight | RDVY weight |
|---|---|---|
| ACNACCENTURE PLC CL A | 3.71% | 2.14% |
| ADPAUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING | 1.56% | 2.28% |
| AFLAFLAC INC | 0.87% | 1.55% |
| CINFCINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP | 0.84% | 1.98% |
| TRVTRAVELERS COS INC/THE | 0.68% | 2.37% |
| AMPAMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC | 0.61% | 1.43% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 0.57% | 2.20% |
| CBCHUBB LTD | 0.54% | 2.13% |
| QCOMQUALCOMM INC | 0.84% | 0.52% |
| ABTABBOTT LABORATORIES | 1.25% | 0.36% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SDY155 holdings total
RDVY72 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. | 2.37% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.28% |
| VVisa Inc. (Class A) | 2.26% |
| EXPEExpedia Group, Inc. | 2.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corporation | 2.20% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. (Class A) | 2.17% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 2.15% |
| GEVGE Vernova Inc. | 2.15% |
| ACNAccenture plc | 2.14% |
| ALLThe Allstate Corporation | 2.13% |
Quick verdict
SDY 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.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how SDY vs RDVY fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SDY or RDVY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SDY currently yields 2.42% 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 SDY and RDVY?
State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) 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, SDY or RDVY?
SDY has the lower expense ratio. SDY charges 0.35% a year and RDVY charges 0.47%, a difference of $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SDY or RDVY?
Over the last 5 years, RDVY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SDY returned 40.4% and RDVY returned 69.8%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SDY or RDVY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, RDVY has been riskier: SDY fell as much as 15.2% and RDVY as much as 25.3%. Their betas are 0.58 and 0.94.
How much do SDY and RDVY overlap?
At least 9% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 10 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are ACN, ADP, AFL. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SDY and RDVY pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9168 for SDY and $0.1521 for RDVY.
How much income does $10,000 in SDY vs RDVY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SDY would generate roughly $20.16 per month ($242 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 SDY 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 SDY vs RDVY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SDY 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.