Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
NOBL vs SDY
ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF versus State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
SDY wins 2–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but NOBL can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | NOBL | SDY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.94% | 2.33% | SDY wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 35.00% | 35.00% | Tie |
| Scale | $12.0B | $22.1B | SDY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 0 wins | 2 wins | SDY wins |
Dimension by dimension
SDY wins on yield (2.33% vs 1.94%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $39 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.
Expense ratios are effectively identical
Both ETFs charge 35.00% — no meaningful cost difference over decades of compounding.
SDY 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.
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, NOBL or SDY?
SDY wins 2–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but NOBL can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Does NOBL or SDY have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $39 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is NOBL or SDY a safer dividend?
NOBL scores 7.6/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SDY scores 7.6/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both NOBL and SDY?
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 NOBL or SDY? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding SDY to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →