Dividend comparison
SPYD vs DGRW: Which Is Better for Income?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF and WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SPYD vs DGRW: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SPYD is cheaper at 0.07% a year versus 0.28% for DGRW. On $10,000 that is $21 a year less in fees.
- Income. SPYD pays more income, yielding 4.33% over the last twelve months versus 1.19% for DGRW. That is about $313 more a year on $10,000. SPYD pays quarterly, DGRW pays monthly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, DGRW returned 72.9% versus 38.0% for SPYD, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,290 in DGRW and $13,797 in SPYD.
- Risk. SPYD has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -22.2%, against -17.3% for DGRW.
- Diversification. DGRW holds 304 positions and SPYD holds 78.
- Dividend growth. SPYD grew its yearly payout 6.0% a year over the last 4 years, versus 2.5% for DGRW.
- Size. DGRW is the larger fund with $17.1 billion in assets, against $7.3 billion for SPYD.
Bottom line: SPYD fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and faster dividend growth. DGRW fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SPYD State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | DGRW WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 4.33% | 1.19% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.06 | $1.19 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Monthly |
| Last dividend | $0.5178 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.1700 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.0% over 4 yrs | 2.5% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $47.60 | $99.40 |
| Dividend growth streak | 2 years | 1 year |
| Beta | 0.64 | 0.82 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -22.2% | -17.3% |
| Market cap | $7.34B | $17.11B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.28% |
| Assets under management | $7.26B | $17.08B |
| Number of holdings | 78 | 304 |
| Top 10 concentration | 16.4% | — |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SPYD
$36.06/mo
$433 /yr at 4.33% yield
DGRW
$9.96/mo
$119 /yr at 1.19% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SPYD pays quarterly; DGRW pays monthly.
| Year | SPYD | DGRW |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.9570 | $1.3165 |
| 2024 | $1.8637 | $1.2103 |
| 2023 | $1.8276 | $1.2250 |
| 2022 | $1.9833 | $1.3002 |
| 2021 | $1.5492 | $1.1906 |
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 $13,797 in SPYD and $17,290 in DGRW.
| Period | SPYD | DGRW |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.13% | 1.50% |
| 3 months | -3.62% | 3.68% |
| Year to date | 10.06% | 11.15% |
| 1 year | 9.07% | 11.56% |
| 3 years | 54.50% | 63.57% |
| 5 years | 37.97% | 72.90% |
- SPYD
- DGRW
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.
- SPYD
- DGRW
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
Quick verdict
SPYD fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and faster dividend growth. DGRW fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns 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 SPYD vs DGRW fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPYD or DGRW better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SPYD currently yields 4.33% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while DGRW yields 1.19%. 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 SPYD and DGRW?
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRW) 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, SPYD or DGRW?
SPYD has the lower expense ratio. SPYD charges 0.07% a year and DGRW charges 0.28%, a difference of $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SPYD or DGRW?
Over the last 5 years, DGRW has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SPYD returned 38.0% and DGRW returned 72.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPYD or DGRW?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SPYD has been riskier: SPYD fell as much as 22.2% and DGRW as much as 17.3%. Their betas are 0.64 and 0.82.
How often do SPYD and DGRW pay dividends?
SPYD pays quarterly and DGRW pays monthly.
How much income does $10,000 in SPYD vs DGRW generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SPYD would generate roughly $36.06 per month ($433 annually). The same amount in DGRW would produce about $9.96 per month ($119 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SPYD and DGRW?
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 SPYD vs DGRW with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SPYD and DGRW 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.