Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DVY vs HDV
iShares Select Dividend ETF versus iShares Core High Dividend ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DVY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but HDV can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DVY | HDV | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.29% | 2.91% | DVY wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 38.00% | 8.00% | HDV wins |
| Scale | $26.4B | $13.4B | DVY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 1 wins | DVY wins |
Dimension by dimension
DVY wins on yield (3.29% vs 2.91%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $38 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Safety scores are too close to call (7.6/10 vs 7.6/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
HDV is cheaper (8.00% vs 38.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $3000/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
DVY is 2.0× 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.
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
Which is better, DVY or HDV?
DVY wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but HDV can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does DVY or HDV have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $38 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DVY or HDV a safer dividend?
DVY scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. HDV scores 7.6/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both DVY and HDV?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own DVY or HDV? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding DVY to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →