RDVY vs SPY
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RDVY or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RDVY led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RDVY is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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 | RDVY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $25.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.83% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 144 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.57%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +19.58%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.64% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.77% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.8% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,238 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.7%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 6, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.7 years).
RDVY 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
RDVY vs SPY Performance
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year RDVY returned +19.58% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, RDVY is up 13.57% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, RDVY compounded at +20.64% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.77% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.52% annualized vs +12.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RDVY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.8% compared with 14.6% 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 -40.6% for RDVY 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RDVY charges 0.47% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $9 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RDVY currently yields 0.83% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
94.0% of RDVY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 40.1% of SPY's money is in holdings RDVY also owns.
Most of RDVY is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
64 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in RDVY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 144 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 434 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for RDVY (59.4% of the fund), and 7 for RDVY that do not appear in SPY (5.8%).
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 RDVY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.10% | 8.01% | 5.91% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.57% | 7.26% | 5.69% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.96% | 5.66% | 3.70% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.01% | 2.99% | 0.98% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 3.06% | 0.55% | 2.51% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.06% | 1.45% | 0.61% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.96% | 0.53% | 2.43% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.52% | 1.93% | 0.41% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.60% | 0.09% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 2.01% | 0.94% | 1.07% |
94.0% of RDVY 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, RDVY or SPY?
RDVY has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RDVY or SPY?
Over the past year RDVY returned +19.58% vs +16.29% for SPY, so RDVY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), RDVY annualized +12.20% vs +12.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RDVY or SPY?
RDVY has been the more volatile fund at 17.8% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: RDVY -40.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both RDVY and SPY?
RDVY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 RDVY and SPY?
94.0% of RDVY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 40.1% of SPY's is in holdings RDVY also owns. They hold 64 positions in common, counted across the 71 positions we hold weights for in RDVY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RDVY or SPY?
RDVY yields 0.83% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RDVY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RDVY led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RDVY is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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.