SDVY vs SPY
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SDVY or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDVY is less concentrated, with 10.5% 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 | SDVY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $11.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 348 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +8.68% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.56% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.04% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.69% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.1% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,879 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 2, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 3, 2017 to Sep 16, 2026 (8.9 years).
SDVY 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
SDVY vs SPY Performance
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) 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 SDVY returned +11.56% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, SDVY is up 8.68% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, SDVY compounded at +15.04% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.69% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.78% annualized vs +9.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDVY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 16.3% 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 -45.2% for SDVY 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDVY charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDVY currently yields 0.96% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
23.7% of SDVY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.6% of SPY's money is in holdings SDVY also owns.
SDVY and SPY share little of their money.
40 positions in common, counted across the 172 positions we hold weights for in SDVY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 348 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 457 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SDVY (97.8% of the fund), and 129 for SDVY that do not appear in SPY (73.2%).
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 SDVY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBKRInteractive Brokers Group Inc | 1.13% | 0.06% | 1.07% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 0.97% | 0.08% | 0.89% |
| AIZAssurant, Inc. | 1.00% | 0.02% | 0.98% |
| WSMWilliams-sonoma Inc | 0.96% | 0.04% | 0.92% |
| VRSNVerisign Inc. | 0.92% | 0.04% | 0.88% |
| NTAPNetapp Inc | 0.87% | 0.06% | 0.81% |
| FOXAFox Corp. Class A | 0.90% | 0.02% | 0.88% |
| SNASnap-On Inc. | 0.89% | 0.03% | 0.86% |
| EMEEmcor Group Inc | 0.87% | 0.05% | 0.82% |
| CINFCincinnati Financial Corp. | 0.87% | 0.04% | 0.83% |
23.7% of SDVY 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, SDVY or SPY?
SDVY has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDVY or SPY?
Over the past year SDVY returned +11.56% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SDVY annualized +9.91% vs +13.78% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDVY or SPY?
SDVY has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 16.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SDVY -45.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SDVY and SPY?
SDVY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 SDVY and SPY?
23.7% of SDVY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.6% of SPY's is in holdings SDVY also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 172 positions we hold weights for in SDVY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDVY or SPY?
SDVY yields 0.96% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SDVY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDVY is less concentrated, with 10.5% 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.