BGDV vs SPY
Bahl & Gaynor Dividend ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BGDV or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. BGDV is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BGDV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $802M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 54 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.64% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.88% | +16.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.3%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,586 | $13,105Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Bahl & Gaynor | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.8 years).
BGDV vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.8 years both funds cover.
BGDV vs SPY Performance
Bahl & Gaynor Dividend ETF (BGDV) is an ETF from Bahl & Gaynor and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BGDV returned +14.88% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, BGDV is up 11.64% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 11.3% for BGDV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -14.8% for BGDV and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGDV charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGDV currently yields 1.01% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.2% of BGDV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.7% of SPY's money is in holdings BGDV also owns.
Most of BGDV is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
40 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in BGDV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 54 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 457 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BGDV (67.7% of the fund), and 6 for BGDV that do not appear in SPY (11.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BGDV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.38% | 8.01% | 5.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.62% | 5.66% | 3.04% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.46% | 2.66% | 1.80% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.84% | 2.99% | 0.15% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.62% | 1.40% | 2.22% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.46% | 1.45% | 1.01% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 3.14% | 0.70% | 2.44% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.74% | 1.93% | 0.19% |
| MSIMotorola Solutions, Inc | 3.43% | 0.12% | 3.31% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 2.90% | 0.55% | 2.35% |
82.2% of BGDV is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BGDV or SPY?
BGDV has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGDV or SPY?
Over the past year BGDV returned +14.88% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BGDV annualized +13.63% vs +16.21% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGDV or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 11.3% for BGDV. Worst drawdown: BGDV -14.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both BGDV and SPY?
BGDV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BGDV and SPY?
82.2% of BGDV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.7% of SPY's is in holdings BGDV also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in BGDV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BGDV or SPY?
BGDV yields 1.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BGDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BGDV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. BGDV is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.