Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DVY vs IDV
iShares Select Dividend ETF versus iShares International Select Dividend ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DVY wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but IDV can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DVY wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. DVY yields 3.29% — lower than IDV's 4.63% — and carries a 7.6/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.8/10 for IDV (Solid). DVY wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but IDV can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, IDV generates 4.63% vs 3.29% — a 1.34% difference that translates to $1,340 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, DVY scores 7.6/10 (Solid) vs 6.8/10 (Solid) for IDV — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DVY | IDV | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.29% | 4.63% | IDV wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | DVY wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 38.00% | 50.00% | DVY wins |
| Scale | $26.4B | $7.9B | DVY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 3 wins | 1 wins | DVY wins |
Dimension by dimension
IDV wins on yield (4.63% vs 3.29%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $134 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
IDV's higher yield (4.63%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus DVY's 3.29% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
DVY 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. DVY scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
DVY (7.6/10) scores 0.8 points higher than IDV (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.
DVY is cheaper (38.00% vs 50.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $1200/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
On $10,000 invested, DVY's lower expense ratio saves roughly $12/year in fees versus IDV. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
DVY is 3.3× 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 for income, DVY or IDV?
DVY wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but IDV can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
DVY vs IDV: which has a higher dividend yield?
DVY yields 3.29% and IDV yields 4.63%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $134 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DVY or IDV a safer dividend in 2026?
DVY scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. IDV scores 6.8/10 (Solid). DVY is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, DVY or IDV?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
DVY vs IDV: 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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