Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
DVY vs SDY
iShares Select Dividend ETF versus State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
DVY and SDY are evenly matched (1–1 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | DVY | SDY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 3.29% | 2.33% | DVY wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 38.00% | 35.00% | SDY wins |
| Scale | $26.4B | $22.1B | Tie |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 1 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
DVY wins on yield (3.29% vs 2.33%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $96 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.
SDY is cheaper (35.00% vs 38.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $300/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
Comparable scale ($26.4B vs $22.1B)
Within 1.5x of each other on market cap / AUM — similar institutional footprint.
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 SDY?
DVY and SDY are evenly matched (1–1 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
DVY vs SDY: which has a higher dividend yield?
DVY yields 3.29% and SDY yields 2.33%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $96 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is DVY or SDY a safer dividend in 2026?
DVY scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SDY scores 7.6/10 (Solid). Both have comparable safety scores.
Which has better dividend growth, DVY or SDY?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
DVY vs SDY: 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.
Already own DVY or SDY? See if the other adds anything.
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