DHS vs SPY
WisdomTree US High Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DHS or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DHS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DHS is less concentrated, with 34.2% 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 | DHS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 323 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.97%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +18.62%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.79% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.26% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,829 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.2%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2006 to Sep 18, 2026 (20.3 years).
DHS 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 20.3 years both funds cover.
DHS vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree US High Dividend Fund (DHS) 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 DHS returned +18.62% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, DHS is up 14.97% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, DHS compounded at +16.79% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.26% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.75% annualized vs +5.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DHS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.3% for SPY. 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 -69.7% for DHS and -56.5% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DHS charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DHS currently yields 3.24% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
78.7% of DHS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 9.8% of SPY's money is in holdings DHS also owns.
Most of DHS is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
73 positions in common, counted across the 315 positions we hold weights for in DHS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 323 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 424 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DHS (89.5% of the fund), and 231 for DHS that do not appear in SPY (19.9%).
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 DHS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 4.94% | 0.70% | 4.24% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 4.84% | 0.56% | 4.28% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 3.66% | 1.04% | 2.62% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 3.53% | 0.18% | 3.35% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 3.16% | 0.44% | 2.72% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 3.13% | 0.27% | 2.86% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.72% | 0.60% | 2.12% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 2.82% | 0.35% | 2.47% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 2.79% | 0.32% | 2.47% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.62% | 0.21% | 2.41% |
78.7% of DHS 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, DHS or SPY?
DHS has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DHS or SPY?
Over the past year DHS returned +18.62% vs +16.29% for SPY, so DHS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DHS annualized +5.25% vs +9.75% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DHS or SPY?
DHS has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DHS -69.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DHS and SPY?
DHS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 DHS and SPY?
78.7% of DHS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 9.8% of SPY's is in holdings DHS also owns. They hold 73 positions in common, counted across the 315 positions we hold weights for in DHS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DHS or SPY?
DHS yields 3.24% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DHS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DHS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DHS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DHS is less concentrated, with 34.2% 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.