DGRO vs SPYD: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETFState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day

Higher yieldSPYD4.46% vs 1.95%
Better 1-year total returnDGRO+16.16% vs +11.53%
Better 5-year total returnDGRO+66.90% vs +46.43%

DGRO vs SPYD at a glance

This page compares iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) with State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) using prices and distributions through September 25, 2026. The numbers update automatically after each trading session.

With dividends reinvested, DGRO has led over the last 12 months at +16.16% versus +11.53% for SPYD. SPYD currently yields 4.46% (trailing 12-month) against 1.95% for DGRO. Across five years the total-return gap is +66.90% for DGRO vs +46.43% for SPYD.

The higher-yielding fund (SPYD) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.

Key figures for DGRO and SPYD
MetricDGROSPYD
Last close$76.57$46.19
Dividend yield1.95% (TTM)4.46% (TTM)
Expense ratio——
Paysquarterlyquarterly
Dividends, last 12 months$1.49 (4 payments)$2.06 (4 payments)
IssueriSharesState Street
Inception——

Performance: DGRO vs SPYD

Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.

DGROSPYD

Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026

DividendDuel.com

Overview

Key fund stats as of the latest close.

ETFTTM yield1Y total returnLast closeLast dividendPaysIssuer
DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
1.95%
+16.16%Best$76.57$0.385QuarterlyiShares
SPYDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF
4.46%
+11.53%$46.19$0.518QuarterlyState Street

Total returns

Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.

ETF1M3M6M1Y2Y5Y
DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF-3.62%+1.96%+10.33%+16.16%+28.89%+66.90%
SPYDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF-7.42%-2.97%+4.97%+11.53%+12.12%+46.43%

Dividends

Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.

ETFLatest payoutvs. priorTrailing 12MRecent payouts
DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF$0.385Sep 15, 2026+16.31%$1.4944 payoutsDec 20, 2023: $0.37Mar 21, 2024: $0.311Jun 11, 2024: $0.293Sep 25, 2024: $0.403Dec 17, 2024: $0.378Mar 18, 2025: $0.311Jun 16, 2025: $0.324Sep 16, 2025: $0.369Dec 16, 2025: $0.447Mar 17, 2026: $0.331Jun 15, 2026: $0.331Sep 15, 2026: $0.385
SPYDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF$0.518Sep 21, 2026-4.60%$2.064 payoutsDec 15, 2023: $0.534Mar 15, 2024: $0.373Jun 21, 2024: $0.487Sep 20, 2024: $0.457Dec 20, 2024: $0.547Mar 24, 2025: $0.419Jun 23, 2025: $0.50Sep 22, 2025: $0.489Dec 22, 2025: $0.549Mar 23, 2026: $0.45Jun 22, 2026: $0.543Sep 21, 2026: $0.518

Recent dividend payments

The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.

DGROSPYD
Sep 15, 2026$0.385Sep 21, 2026$0.518
Jun 15, 2026$0.331Jun 22, 2026$0.543
Mar 17, 2026$0.331Mar 23, 2026$0.450
Dec 16, 2025$0.447Dec 22, 2025$0.549
Sep 16, 2025$0.369Sep 22, 2025$0.489
Jun 16, 2025$0.324Jun 23, 2025$0.500
Mar 18, 2025$0.311Mar 24, 2025$0.419
Dec 17, 2024$0.378Dec 20, 2024$0.547
Sep 25, 2024$0.403Sep 20, 2024$0.457
Jun 11, 2024$0.293Jun 21, 2024$0.487
Mar 21, 2024$0.311Mar 15, 2024$0.373
Dec 20, 2023$0.370Dec 15, 2023$0.534

DGRO vs SPYD: common questions

Which pays a higher dividend, DGRO or SPYD?

As of September 25, 2026, DGRO yields 1.95% (trailing 12-month) and SPYD yields 4.46% (trailing 12-month), so SPYD currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.

Which has performed better, DGRO or SPYD?

Over the past year with dividends reinvested, DGRO returned +16.16% and SPYD returned +11.53%. Over five years, DGRO returned +66.90% and SPYD returned +46.43%. Past performance does not predict future results.

What would $10,000 in DGRO vs SPYD be worth after one year?

With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,616 in DGRO and $11,153 in SPYD.

How often do DGRO and SPYD pay dividends?

DGRO pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and SPYD pays quarterly (4 payments).

Is DGRO or SPYD the better investment?

It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.

Related comparisons

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Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.