SPY vs TDIV
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund
Which is better, SPY or TDIV?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. TDIV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.3%.
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 | SPY | TDIV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $4.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.37% |
| Holdings | 505 | 192 |
| YTD Return | +13.82% | +19.79%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.96%Tie | +16.96%Tie |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.97% | +28.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.73% | +17.30%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 16.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -32.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,027 | $22,207Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 50.3% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 13, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 14, 2012 to Sep 21, 2026 (14.1 years).
SPY vs TDIV 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 14.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TDIV Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund (TDIV) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% while TDIV returned +16.96%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.82% versus a gain of 19.79% for TDIV.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.97% per year against +28.72% for TDIV; over five years the annualized figures are +13.73% and +17.30% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, TDIV has the edge at +14.09% annualized vs +13.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TDIV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -32.0% for TDIV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TDIV charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $50 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.37% for TDIV.
Holdings Overlap
14.3% of SPY's money is in holdings TDIV also owns. 77.9% of TDIV's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of TDIV is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
33 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 93 in TDIV, against full books of 505 and 192.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 36 positions for TDIV that do not appear in our book for SPY (5.0% of the fund), and 464 for SPY that do not appear in TDIV (85.0%).
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 SPY | Weight in TDIV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 9.66% | 4.00% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 7.11% | 4.45% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 0.33% | 6.74% | 6.41% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.35% | 6.19% | 5.84% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.36% | 5.44% | 5.08% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.27% | 2.91% | 2.64% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | 0.32% | 2.82% | 2.50% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 0.26% | 2.62% | 2.36% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.53% | 2.25% | 1.72% |
| MSIMotorola Solutions, Inc | 0.12% | 2.58% | 2.46% |
77.9% of TDIV 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, SPY or TDIV?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TDIV charges 0.50%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TDIV?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% vs +16.96% for TDIV, so TDIV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SPY annualized +13.44% vs +14.09% for TDIV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TDIV?
TDIV has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TDIV -32.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and TDIV?
SPY and TDIV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 SPY and TDIV?
77.9% of TDIV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 77.9% of TDIV's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 93 in TDIV.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TDIV?
SPY yields 0.98% while TDIV yields 1.37%, so TDIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TDIV better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. TDIV led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.