DGRO vs SPYD
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-08
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.05%. Launched in 2014, the fund has a 12-year track record.
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.07%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.35%. Launched in 2015, the fund has a 11-year track record.
Quick Verdict
Both funds have nearly identical expense ratios (0.07% vs 0.08%), so fees are not a differentiator here. Over the past year, DGRO has significantly outperformed with a 30.0% return vs 17.9%. Income investors may prefer SPYD for its higher yield (4.3% vs 2.0%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
DGRO Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM | 3.20% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM | 2.99% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 2.92% |
| Johnson & JohnsonJNJ | 2.88% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 2.77% |
| AbbVie Inc.ABBV | 2.57% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.55% |
| The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG | 2.09% |
| Merck & Co., Inc.MRK | 2.02% |
| Philip Morris International Inc.PM | 1.96% |
SPYD Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| APA CorporationAPA | 1.99% |
| LyondellBasell Industries N.V.LYB | 1.86% |
| Dow Inc.DOW | 1.75% |
| EOG Resources, Inc.EOG | 1.62% |
| Verizon Communications Inc.VZ | 1.54% |
| Phillips 66PSX | 1.54% |
| AT&T Inc.T | 1.48% |
| Edison InternationalEIX | 1.48% |
| Chevron CorporationCVX | 1.46% |
| ONEOK, Inc.OKE | 1.43% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose DGRO if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose SPYD if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.
Either works if...
you just need broad us dividend exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.