Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
IDV vs RYLD
iShares International Select Di versus Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
IDV wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but RYLD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | IDV | RYLD | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 4.63% | 11.85% | RYLD wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.8/10 | 4.7/10 | IDV wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 50.00% | 60.00% | IDV wins |
| Scale | $7.9B | $1.3B | IDV wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Ordinary income | IDV wins |
| Overall | 4 wins | 1 wins | IDV wins |
Dimension by dimension
RYLD wins on yield (11.85% vs 4.63%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $722 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
IDV wins on safety (6.8/10 vs 4.7/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. IDV scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
IDV is cheaper (50.00% vs 60.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $1000/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
IDV is 6.0× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
IDV is more tax-efficient in a taxable account
RYLD's distributions are typically taxed as ordinary income (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT) — versus qualified dividends from IDV which get the lower long-term capital gains rate.
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, IDV or RYLD?
IDV wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but RYLD can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does IDV or RYLD have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $722 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is IDV or RYLD a safer dividend?
IDV scores 6.8/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. RYLD scores 4.7/10 (Weak). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both IDV and RYLD?
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 IDV or RYLD? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding IDV to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →