Dividend comparison
SPYG vs IWF: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF and iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SPYG vs IWF: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SPYG is cheaper at 0.04% a year versus 0.18% for IWF. On $10,000 that is $14 a year less in fees.
- Income. SPYG pays more income, yielding 0.48% over the last twelve months versus 0.35% for IWF. That is about $13 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SPYG returned 86.3% versus 73.9% for IWF, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,633 in SPYG and $17,388 in IWF.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -32.7% for SPYG and -32.7% for IWF from peak to trough.
- Diversification. IWF holds 372 positions and SPYG holds 152. The ten largest positions make up 60.2% of SPYG and 57.8% of IWF.
- Overlap. 74% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 62 shared holdings. Owning both adds little diversification.
- Dividend growth. SPYG grew its yearly payout 5.3% a year over the last 4 years, versus 2.9% for IWF.
- Size. IWF is the larger fund with $125.0 billion in assets, against $56.1 billion for SPYG.
Bottom line: SPYG fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. IWF fits better if you care most about broader diversification. With 74% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SPYG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | IWF iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.48% | 0.35% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.59 | $0.43 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.1482 on Sep 23, 2026 | $0.1089 on Sep 18, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 5.3% over 4 yrs | 2.9% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $121.15 | $122.41 |
| Dividend growth streak | 1 year | — |
| Beta | 1.18 | 1.17 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -32.7% | -32.7% |
| Market cap | $55.60B | $124.78B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | $56.15B | $125.03B |
| Number of holdings | 152 | 372 |
| Top 10 concentration | 60.2% | 57.8% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SPYG
$4.03/mo
$48 /yr at 0.48% yield
IWF
$2.94/mo
$35 /yr at 0.35% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SPYG pays quarterly; IWF pays quarterly.
| Year | SPYG | IWF |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.5519 | $0.4239 |
| 2024 | $0.5315 | $0.4596 |
| 2023 | $0.7493 | $0.5067 |
| 2022 | $0.5194 | $0.4873 |
| 2021 | $0.4482 | $0.3781 |
Strategy: Large-cap growth
Funds that hold the faster-growing half of the large-cap market, selected by measures like earnings growth, sales growth and price momentum. In practice that means heavy weights in technology and communication companies, with the largest few names often making up a third of the fund or more. Dividends are small because growth companies reinvest their cash instead of paying it out.
Concentration in a handful of mega-cap stocks makes these funds swing harder than the broad market in both directions, and they offer little current income.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $18,633 in SPYG and $17,388 in IWF.
| Period | SPYG | IWF |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.14% | -0.68% |
| 3 months | 4.05% | 2.56% |
| Year to date | 13.98% | 3.73% |
| 1 year | 15.83% | 3.98% |
| 3 years | 110.00% | 87.49% |
| 5 years | 86.33% | 73.88% |
- SPYG
- IWF
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.
- SPYG
- IWF
SPYG vs IWF holdings overlap
74% overlap by weight, with 62 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 | SPYG weight | IWF weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 14.45% | 15.20% |
| AAPLAPPLE INC | 6.88% | 8.06% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 10.90% | 5.95% |
| GOOGLALPHABET INC CL A | 5.56% | 6.02% |
| GOOGALPHABET INC CL C | 4.45% | 4.86% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 4.38% | 4.67% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS INC CLASS A | 4.28% | 3.81% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 2.81% | 3.06% |
| LLYELI LILLY + CO | 2.73% | 2.97% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 2.42% | 2.63% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SPYG152 holdings total
Quick verdict
SPYG fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. IWF fits better if you care most about broader diversification. With 74% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is SPYG or IWF better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SPYG currently yields 0.48% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while IWF yields 0.35%. 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 SPYG and IWF?
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) 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, SPYG or IWF?
SPYG has the lower expense ratio. SPYG charges 0.04% a year and IWF charges 0.18%, a difference of $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SPYG or IWF?
Over the last 5 years, SPYG has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SPYG returned 86.3% and IWF returned 73.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPYG or IWF?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, IWF has been riskier: SPYG fell as much as 32.7% and IWF as much as 32.7%. Their betas are 1.18 and 1.17.
How much do SPYG and IWF overlap?
About 74% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 62 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both adds little diversification.
How often do SPYG and IWF pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.1482 for SPYG and $0.1089 for IWF.
How much income does $10,000 in SPYG vs IWF generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SPYG would generate roughly $4.03 per month ($48 annually). The same amount in IWF would produce about $2.94 per month ($35 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SPYG and IWF?
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 SPYG vs IWF with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SPYG and IWF 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.