DNP vs SPY
DNP Select Income Fund Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DNP or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | DNP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.77% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 131 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.04%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +17.76% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.86% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.71% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -54.8%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,497 | $18,173Best |
| Fund Family | Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 21, 1987 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 8, 2026 (30.7 years).
DNP 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
DNP vs SPY Performance
DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (DNP) is an ETF from Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DNP returned +17.76% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, DNP is up 13.04% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, DNP compounded at +10.86% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.71% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.79% annualized vs +1.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.7% for DNP. 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 -54.8% for DNP 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 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DNP charges 1.77% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $177 vs $9 annually, a gap of $168 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DNP currently yields 8.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.9% of SPY's money is in holdings DNP also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for DNP, our book for it lists positions totalling 127.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and DNP share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, DNP as of Jan 30, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
33 positions in common, counted across the 122 positions we hold weights for in DNP and 503 in SPY, against full books of 131 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DNP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.72% | 0.07% | 3.65% |
| SRESempra | 3.52% | 0.09% | 3.43% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc | 3.40% | 0.04% | 3.36% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 3.18% | 0.07% | 3.11% |
| AEEAmeren Corp. | 3.11% | 0.05% | 3.06% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 2.77% | 0.27% | 2.50% |
| NINisource Inc Preferred Stock Var | 2.98% | 0.03% | 2.95% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 2.89% | 0.03% | 2.86% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 2.88% | 0.03% | 2.85% |
| CMSCms Energy Corp. | 2.66% | 0.03% | 2.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DNP 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, DNP or SPY?
DNP has an expense ratio of 1.77% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $168 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DNP or SPY?
Over the past year DNP returned +17.76% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), DNP annualized +1.98% vs +8.79% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DNP or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.7% for DNP. Worst drawdown: DNP -54.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DNP and SPY?
DNP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, 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 DNP and SPY?
At least 2.9% of SPY's money is in holdings DNP also owns. Our book for DNP is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 122 positions we hold weights for in DNP and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DNP or SPY?
DNP yields 8.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DNP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DNP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.