# SDY alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

> ETFs similar to SDY, closest first, with each fund's fee, what it tracks, and returns and worst drops on the same dates as SDY. Updated daily.

The ETFs most like SDY are SPYD, DVY and SCHD. SPYD, DVY and SCHD hold US companies that pay high or steady dividends, like SDY. VYM costs less: 0.04% a year against 0.35%.

Written by [the Tactfolio research team](https://tactfolio.com/about/editorial-policy). Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 16, 2026.

## Key points

- 8 funds can stand in for SDY: 6 of the same kind and 2 related funds.
- SDY charges 0.35% a year (about $35 on $10,000). The cheapest alternative here, VYM, charges 0.04%.
- SPYD moved most like SDY: a daily correlation of 0.94 over about the last five years.
- Returns and drops for each pair use the same dates for both funds.

## SDY alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for SDY, closest first. "Same kind" funds hold the same kind of stocks through a different index. "Related" funds make a different bet that often moves the same way.

| ETF | How close | Yearly fee | Fee on $10,000 | Tracks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **SDY** | This fund | 0.35% | $35 | S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index |
| [SPYD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyd.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.07% | $7 | S&P 500 High Dividend Index |
| [DVY](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dvy.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.38% | $38 | Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index |
| [SCHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schd.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.06% | $6 | Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index |
| [SPHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/sphd.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.3% | $30 | S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index |
| [VYM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vym.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.04% | $4 | FTSE High Dividend Yield Index |
| [HDV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/hdv.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.08% | $8 | Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index |
| [DGRO](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dgro.md) | Related fund | 0.08% | $8 | Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index |
| [VIG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vig.md) | Related fund | 0.04% | $4 | S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index |

Fees come from each fund company, checked on the dates shown on each fund's page.

## How SDY and its alternatives did over the same dates

Each row measures the alternative and SDY on the days both traded, so neither gets a head start. Correlation shows how closely their daily moves matched over about the last five years. A value of 1 means they always moved together.

| ETF | Moves with SDY | Per year | SDY per year | Worst drop | SDY worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SPYD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyd.md) | 0.94 | 8.9% | 10.0% | −46.4% | −36.7% | October 2015 |
| [DVY](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dvy.md) | 0.94 | 8.5% | 8.9% | −62.6% | −54.8% | November 2005 |
| [SCHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schd.md) | 0.93 | 13.5% | 11.3% | −33.4% | −36.7% | October 2011 |
| [SPHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/sphd.md) | 0.92 | 9.4% | 11.0% | −41.4% | −36.7% | October 2012 |
| [VYM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vym.md) | 0.90 | 9.3% | 8.5% | −57.0% | −54.8% | November 2006 |
| [HDV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/hdv.md) | 0.87 | 11.0% | 10.6% | −37.0% | −36.7% | March 2011 |
| [DGRO](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dgro.md) | 0.92 | 12.4% | 9.6% | −35.1% | −36.7% | June 2014 |
| [VIG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vig.md) | 0.87 | 10.2% | 8.8% | −46.8% | −54.8% | May 2006 |

Prices through October 16, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.

## Each SDY alternative, compared

### SPYD: State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

SPYD also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the S&P 500 High Dividend Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 78 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From October 2015 to October 2026, SPYD returned about 8.9% a year and SDY returned about 10.0% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.94).

Read the [SPYD fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyd.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### DVY: iShares Select Dividend ETF

DVY also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.38% a year, about $38 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 98 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From November 2005 to October 2026, DVY returned about 8.5% a year and SDY returned about 8.9% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.94).

Read the [DVY fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dvy.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### SCHD: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

SCHD also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.06% a year, about $6 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 98 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From October 2011 to October 2026, SCHD returned about 13.5% a year and SDY returned about 11.3% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.93).

Read the [SCHD fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schd.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### SPHD: Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF

SPHD also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.3% a year, about $30 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY.

From October 2012 to October 2026, SPHD returned about 9.4% a year and SDY returned about 11.0% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.92).

Read the [SPHD fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/sphd.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### VYM: Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

VYM also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 593 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From November 2006 to October 2026, VYM returned about 9.3% a year and SDY returned about 8.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.90).

Read the [VYM fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vym.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF

HDV also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index.

It charges 0.08% a year, about $8 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 74 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From March 2011 to October 2026, HDV returned about 11.0% a year and SDY returned about 10.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.87).

Read the [HDV fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/hdv.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### DGRO: iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF

DGRO is a looser match. It holds US companies that have raised their dividends for many years in a row, while SDY holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends.

It charges 0.08% a year, about $8 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 391 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From June 2014 to October 2026, DGRO returned about 12.4% a year and SDY returned about 9.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.92).

Read the [DGRO fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dgro.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### VIG: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

VIG is a looser match. It holds US companies that have raised their dividends for many years in a row, while SDY holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $35 for SDY. It held 333 stocks, against 155 for SDY.

From May 2006 to October 2026, VIG returned about 10.2% a year and SDY returned about 8.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.87).

Read the [VIG fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vig.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

## SDY versions from other fund companies

Some people keep all their funds with one company. Here is the closest fund to SDY from each other company on this page:

- **iShares (BlackRock):** [DVY](https://tactfolio.com/etf/dvy.md), iShares Select Dividend ETF (same kind of fund, 0.38% a year)
- **Schwab:** [SCHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schd.md), Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (same kind of fund, 0.06% a year)
- **Invesco:** [SPHD](https://tactfolio.com/etf/sphd.md), Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (same kind of fund, 0.3% a year)
- **Vanguard:** [VYM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vym.md), Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (same kind of fund, 0.04% a year)

Most brokers let you buy any ETF, whoever runs it. Mutual fund versions, such as a fund company's index mutual fund, are not listed here.

## How to choose between SDY and its alternatives

- **What it tracks.** A fund on the same index holds the same stocks. A different index can mean different weights, more or fewer holdings, or a different mix.
- **The fee.** The difference is often small. On $10,000, SDY costs about $35 a year. VYM costs about $4.
- **History.** An older fund has been through more bad markets, so you can see how far it fell.
- **What you already own.** Two funds that move together add little variety. A fund with a low correlation behaves more on its own.

## Swapping SDY to harvest a tax loss

Some investors sell a fund at a loss to lower their taxes, then buy a similar fund so they stay invested. This is called tax-loss harvesting.

The IRS wash sale rule blocks the loss if you buy a "substantially identical" security within 30 days before or after the sale. The IRS has not said exactly when two funds count. Funds on the same index are more likely to. Funds on a different index, such as SPYD, DVY or SCHD, are less likely to.

Ask a tax professional before you rely on this. Read the IRS rules in [Publication 550](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550).

## Test SDY and its alternatives in a backtest

Tactfolio is a platform where you build rules-based investing strategies, backtest them on decades of real prices, share them, and run them automatically in your own Alpaca account. Open the [builder](https://tactfolio.com/builder), add SDY and SPYD, and see how each would have done on the same dates, or how a mix of both would have done.

## The details

Alternatives are picked from facts, not from returns. First come funds that track the same index as SDY. Then come funds that hold the same kind of stocks through another index. Last come funds from a close category that make a different bet. Leveraged funds are only listed as alternatives to other leveraged funds.

Within each group, the funds whose daily returns moved most like SDY over about the last five years come first. Returns and worst drops use Tactfolio's stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. Each alternative is measured with SDY only on days both traded. Read [what a backtest simulates](https://tactfolio.com/docs/backtests.md) for more on these measures.

## Research and test it

- [S&P 500 index](https://tactfolio.com/learn/sp500-index): The S&P 500 tracks about 500 large US companies. Learn how stocks get in, how the index is weighted, how to invest in it, and how far it has fallen before.
- [What is an ETF](https://tactfolio.com/learn/what-is-an-etf): An ETF is a fund that trades like a stock. Learn how ETFs work, what they cost, the main types, and the risks, with SEC sources.
- [ETF screener](https://tactfolio.com/screener.md): A free ETF screener for 162 US-listed funds. Filter by type, issuer and fee, sort by returns or worst drop, and compare funds side by side.
- [ETF expense ratio](https://tactfolio.com/learn/etf-expense-ratio): What an ETF expense ratio is, how the fund charges it, and how 0.03% vs 1% adds up over 10 and 30 years, with real fund examples.
- [Backtest a portfolio](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/backtest-portfolio): Backtest a portfolio of US stocks and ETFs. Enter tickers and shares, pick when to rebalance, and get the results with a link to share.
- [Backtesting](https://tactfolio.com/backtesting): Free backtesting software for stocks, ETFs, and crypto perps.

## Common questions

### What ETF is most similar to SDY?

SPYD is the closest. SPYD also holds US companies that pay high or steady dividends. It tracks the S&P 500 High Dividend Index, while SDY tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days.

### Is there a cheaper alternative to SDY?

Yes. VYM charges 0.04% a year, VIG charges 0.04% a year and SCHD charges 0.06% a year, against 0.35% for SDY. On $10,000 that is about $4 a year instead of $35.

### Is SDY or SPYD better?

Neither is better for everyone. From October 2015 to October 2026, SDY returned about 10.0% a year and SPYD returned about 8.9% a year. SDY charges 0.35% a year and SPYD charges 0.07%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

### What if I had put $10,000 in SDY 10 years ago?

It would have grown to about $25,331 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 9.7% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [SPDR (State Street): State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF fund page](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/state-street-spdr-sp-dividend-etf-sdy)
- [SPDR (State Street): State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF fund page](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/state-street-spdr-portfolio-sp-500-high-dividend-etf-spyd)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Select Dividend ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239500/ishares-select-dividend-etf)
- [Schwab: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1454889/000110465926020681/tm266454-15_497k.htm)
- [Invesco: Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1378872/000119312525325658/d54028d497k.htm)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vym)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Core High Dividend ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239563/ishares-core-high-dividend-etf)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/264623/ishares-core-dividend-growth-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vig)
- [IRS Publication 550: wash sales](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550)

> Not financial advice. Tactfolio is a research and automation tool. It is not a broker or a financial adviser. This page is for education only. Backtests are hypothetical. They show how rules would have done on past prices, not how they will do. All investing involves risk, including losing the money you put in.