DGRW vs SPY
WisdomTree US Quality Dividend Growth Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DGRW or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%.
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 | DGRW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $17.2B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 398 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +10.41% | +12.11%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.21% | +14.35%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.73% | +23.00%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.52% | +12.29%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,249 | $17,853Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.2% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 22, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 22, 2013 to Oct 23, 2026 (13.4 years).
DGRW 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
DGRW vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree US Quality Dividend Growth Fund (DGRW) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DGRW returned +11.21% while SPY returned +14.35%. Year to date, DGRW is up 10.41% versus a gain of 12.11% for SPY.
Over three years, DGRW compounded at +17.73% per year against +23.00% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.52% and +12.29% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +11.59%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 13.4% for DGRW. 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 -32.2% for DGRW and -34.1% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DGRW charges 0.28% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $9 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DGRW currently yields 1.22% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.3% of DGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 57.5% of SPY's money is in holdings DGRW also owns.
Most of DGRW is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
137 positions in common, counted across the 198 positions we hold weights for in DGRW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 398 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 360 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DGRW (41.8% of the fund), and 61 for DGRW that do not appear in SPY (4.5%).
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 DGRW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 8.02% | 5.71% | 2.31% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.96% | 7.45% | 1.49% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.00% | 7.78% | 2.78% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 5.08% | 1.04% | 4.04% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.34% | 2.48% | 0.86% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 1.78% | 3.12% | 1.34% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 3.70% | 0.70% | 3.00% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.65% | 2.49% | 0.84% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.79% | 2.22% | 0.43% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 3.12% | 0.52% | 2.60% |
95.3% of DGRW 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, DGRW or SPY?
DGRW has an expense ratio of 0.28% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DGRW or SPY?
Over the past year DGRW returned +11.21% vs +14.35% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), DGRW annualized +11.59% vs +12.65% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DGRW or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 13.4% for DGRW. Worst drawdown: DGRW -32.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DGRW and SPY?
DGRW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DGRW and SPY?
95.3% of DGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 57.5% of SPY's is in holdings DGRW also owns. They hold 137 positions in common, counted across the 198 positions we hold weights for in DGRW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DGRW or SPY?
DGRW yields 1.22% while SPY yields 0.99%, so DGRW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DGRW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.