DIV vs SPY
Global X SuperDividend US ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DIV or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DIV led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DIV is less concentrated, with 24.9% 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 | DIV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $793M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.41% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 52 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.52%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +18.50%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.87% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,941 | $18,424Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.9%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 11, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 12, 2013 to Sep 17, 2026 (13.5 years).
DIV 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 13.5 years both funds cover.
DIV vs SPY Performance
Global X SuperDividend US ETF (DIV) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DIV returned +18.50% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, DIV is up 17.52% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, DIV compounded at +12.95% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.87% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.09% annualized vs +0.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.3% 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 -62.5% for DIV 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIV 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, DIV currently yields 6.41% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
15.3% of DIV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings DIV also owns.
DIV and SPY share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DIV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 52 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DIV (98.0% of the fund), and 36 for DIV that do not appear in SPY (71.6%).
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 DIV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VZVerizon Communic | 2.02% | 0.32% | 1.70% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.05% | 0.25% | 1.80% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 2.04% | 0.18% | 1.86% |
| KHCKraft Heinz Co. | 2.14% | 0.03% | 2.11% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 1.99% | 0.09% | 1.90% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.78% | 0.27% | 1.51% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 1.75% | 0.12% | 1.63% |
| AMCRAmcor Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.49% | 0.03% | 1.46% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIV 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, DIV or SPY?
DIV 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, DIV or SPY?
Over the past year DIV returned +18.50% vs +16.97% for SPY, so DIV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), DIV annualized +0.77% vs +13.09% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIV or SPY?
DIV has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DIV -62.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DIV and SPY?
DIV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 DIV and SPY?
15.3% of DIV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's is in holdings DIV also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DIV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DIV or SPY?
DIV yields 6.41% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DIV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DIV led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DIV is less concentrated, with 24.9% 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.