DIM vs SPY
WisdomTree International MidCap Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DIM or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DIM is less concentrated, with 8.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | DIM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $167M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.97% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 608 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.97%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +18.91% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.54% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.07% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,436 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | 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 8, 2026 (20.2 years).
DIM 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
DIM vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree International MidCap Dividend Fund (DIM) 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 DIM returned +18.91% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, DIM is up 12.97% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, DIM compounded at +19.54% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.07% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.79% annualized vs +3.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 15.2% 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 -64.7% for DIM 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIM charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIM currently yields 2.97% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of DIM's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 589 positions we hold weights for in DIM and 503 in SPY, against full books of 608 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DIM (99.4% of the fund), and 9 for DIM that do not appear in SPY (2.9%).
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 DIM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| APAApa Corp | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIM and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DIM or SPY?
DIM has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DIM or SPY?
Over the past year DIM returned +18.91% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DIM annualized +3.95% vs +9.79% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIM or SPY?
DIM has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DIM -64.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DIM and SPY?
DIM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIM or SPY?
DIM yields 2.97% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DIM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DIM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DIM is less concentrated, with 8.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.