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.
DVY or HDV — which is better?
DVY wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. DVY yields 3.29% — higher than HDV's 3.05% — and carries a 7.6/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.6/10 for HDV (Solid). 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.
On yield alone, DVY generates 3.29% vs 3.05% — a 0.24% difference that translates to $240 more per year on a $100,000 investment.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DVY | HDV | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.29% | 3.05% | 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 | $14.5B | 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 3.05%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $24 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
DVY's higher yield (3.29%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus HDV's 3.05% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
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.
On $10,000 invested, HDV's lower expense ratio saves roughly $30/year in fees versus DVY. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
DVY is 1.8× 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 DVY dividends qualified and are HDV 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
DVY or HDV — which is better?
DVY is better on our scoring, winning 2–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, 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.
Which is better for income, 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.
DVY vs HDV: which has a higher dividend yield?
DVY yields 3.29% and HDV yields 3.05%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $24 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DVY or HDV a safer dividend in 2026?
DVY scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. HDV scores 7.6/10 (Solid). Both have comparable safety scores.
Which has better dividend growth, DVY or HDV?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
DVY vs HDV: 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 DVY and HDV 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 DVY diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.