Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

FDVV vs SDY

Fidelity High Dividend ETF versus State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

FDVV wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SDY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

FDVV wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. FDVV yields 2.69% — higher than SDY's 2.41% — and carries a 7.3/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.6/10 for SDY (Solid). FDVV wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SDY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

On yield alone, FDVV generates 2.69% vs 2.41% — a 0.28% difference that translates to $280 more per year on a $100,000 investment.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	FDVV	SDY	Winner
Yield	2.69%	2.41%	FDVV wins
Dividend safety	7.3/10	7.6/10	Tie
Growth trend	—	—	Tie
Expense ratio	15.00%	35.00%	FDVV wins
Scale	$9.8B	$23.5B	SDY wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	2 wins	1 wins	FDVV wins

Dimension by dimension

FDVV wins on yield (2.69% vs 2.41%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

FDVV's higher yield (2.69%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus SDY's 2.41% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

FDVV: 2.69%SDY: 2.41%

Safety scores are too close to call (7.3/10 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.

FDVV: 7.3/10SDY: 7.6/10

Yield-trend comparison unavailable

One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.

FDVV: —SDY: —

FDVV is cheaper (15.00% vs 35.00%)

On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $2000/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.

On $10,000 invested, FDVV's lower expense ratio saves roughly $20/year in fees versus SDY. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.

FDVV: 15.00%SDY: 35.00%

SDY is 2.4× larger by AUM

Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

FDVV: $9.8BSDY: $23.5B

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.

FDVV: Qualified-eligibleSDY: Qualified-eligible

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, FDVV or SDY?

FDVV wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SDY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

FDVV vs SDY: which has a higher dividend yield?

FDVV yields 2.69% and SDY yields 2.41%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $28 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is FDVV or SDY a safer dividend in 2026?

FDVV scores 7.3/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SDY scores 7.6/10 (Solid). SDY is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, FDVV or SDY?