Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DGRO vs SPHD
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF versus Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DGRO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPHD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DGRO or SPHD — which is better?
DGRO wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. DGRO yields 1.98% — lower than SPHD's 4.31% — and carries a 7.6/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.8/10 for SPHD (Solid). DGRO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPHD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, SPHD generates 4.31% vs 1.98% — a 2.33% difference that translates to $2,330 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, DGRO scores 7.6/10 (Solid) vs 6.8/10 (Solid) for SPHD — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DGRO | SPHD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.98% | 4.31% | SPHD wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | DGRO wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 8.00% | 30.00% | DGRO wins |
| Scale | $41.9B | $3.3B | DGRO wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | DGRO wins |
Dimension by dimension
SPHD wins on yield (4.31% vs 1.98%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $233 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
SPHD's higher yield (4.31%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus DGRO's 1.98% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
DGRO wins on safety (7.6/10 vs 6.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. DGRO scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
DGRO (7.6/10) scores 0.8 points higher than SPHD (6.8/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
DGRO is cheaper (8.00% vs 30.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $2200/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
On $10,000 invested, DGRO's lower expense ratio saves roughly $22/year in fees versus SPHD. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
DGRO is 12.7× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are DGRO dividends qualified and are SPHD dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
DGRO or SPHD — which is better?
DGRO is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. DGRO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPHD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, DGRO or SPHD?
DGRO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPHD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DGRO vs SPHD: which has a higher dividend yield?
DGRO yields 1.98% and SPHD yields 4.31%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $233 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DGRO or SPHD a safer dividend in 2026?
DGRO scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SPHD scores 6.8/10 (Solid). DGRO is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, DGRO or SPHD?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
DGRO vs SPHD: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put DGRO and SPHD into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding DGRO diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.