SDOG vs SPY
ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SDOG or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SDOG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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 | SDOG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.26% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 51 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.02%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +23.49%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.68% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.81% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,707 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.9%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2012 to Sep 16, 2026 (14.2 years).
SDOG 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
SDOG vs SPY Performance
ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (SDOG) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SDOG returned +23.49% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, SDOG is up 19.02% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, SDOG compounded at +17.68% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.81% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +9.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 14.1% 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 -46.4% for SDOG 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDOG charges 0.36% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $9 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDOG currently yields 3.26% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
91.7% of SDOG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 6.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SDOG also owns.
Most of SDOG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
46 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SDOG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 51 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 451 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SDOG (93.0% of the fund), and 3 for SDOG that do not appear in SPY (5.6%).
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 SDOG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.37% | 0.56% | 1.81% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 2.15% | 0.70% | 1.45% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.11% | 0.60% | 1.51% |
| GPCGenuine Parts Co. | 2.50% | 0.03% | 2.47% |
| PAYXPaychex, Inc. | 2.42% | 0.06% | 2.36% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 2.24% | 0.21% | 2.03% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 2.17% | 0.25% | 1.92% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | 2.28% | 0.11% | 2.17% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 2.10% | 0.27% | 1.83% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.08% | 0.25% | 1.83% |
91.7% of SDOG 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, SDOG or SPY?
SDOG has an expense ratio of 0.36% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDOG or SPY?
Over the past year SDOG returned +23.49% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SDOG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SDOG annualized +9.17% vs +13.39% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDOG or SPY?
SDOG has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SDOG -46.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SDOG and SPY?
SDOG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 SDOG and SPY?
91.7% of SDOG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 6.3% of SPY's is in holdings SDOG also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in SDOG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDOG or SPY?
SDOG yields 3.26% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SDOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SDOG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SDOG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDOG is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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.