DTD vs SPY
WisdomTree US Total Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DTD or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DTD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. DTD is less concentrated, with 22.7% 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 | DTD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.81% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 801 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.59%Best | +11.97% |
| 1Y Return | +17.50%Best | +16.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.84% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.19% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.2% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,773 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.7%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 14, 2026 (20.2 years).
DTD 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.
DTD vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree US Total Dividend Fund (DTD) 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 DTD returned +17.50% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, DTD is up 13.59% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, DTD compounded at +17.84% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.19% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.75% annualized vs +7.48%.
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 14.6% for DTD. 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 -60.2% for DTD 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DTD 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, DTD currently yields 1.81% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.0% of DTD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 75.3% of SPY's money is in holdings DTD also owns.
Most of DTD is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
332 positions in common, counted across the 808 positions we hold weights for in DTD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 801 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 165 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DTD (24.1% of the fund), and 426 for DTD that do not appear in SPY (9.2%).
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 DTD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.51% | 8.01% | 4.50% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.02% | 5.66% | 1.64% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.14% | 7.26% | 5.12% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.06% | 2.66% | 0.60% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.28% | 2.99% | 1.71% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.81% | 1.45% | 1.36% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.48% | 1.93% | 0.45% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.92% | 1.04% | 0.88% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.78% | 0.99% | 0.79% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.13% | 1.40% | 0.27% |
89.0% of DTD 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, DTD or SPY?
DTD 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, DTD or SPY?
Over the past year DTD returned +17.50% vs +16.40% for SPY, so DTD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DTD annualized +7.48% vs +9.75% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DTD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.6% for DTD. Worst drawdown: DTD -60.2% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DTD and SPY?
DTD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 DTD and SPY?
89.0% of DTD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 75.3% of SPY's is in holdings DTD also owns. They hold 332 positions in common, counted across the 808 positions we hold weights for in DTD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DTD or SPY?
DTD yields 1.81% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DTD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DTD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DTD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. DTD is less concentrated, with 22.7% 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.