What is the main strategic difference between DGRO and HDV?

DGRO and HDV represent distinct dividend investing strategies. DGRO focuses on dividend growth, targeting companies likely to increase payouts over time. Conversely, HDV aims for high dividend income, prioritising current yield. The former seeks capital appreciation alongside modest income, while the latter emphasises immediate cash flow. Investors must determine whether they prefer potential future payout increases or higher current distributions when evaluating these approaches.

How do expense ratios impact these identical-cost ETFs?

Both DGRO and HDV share a low 0.08% expense ratio, making their direct costs equivalent. This fee level is highly competitive for broad-market ETFs. The primary impact of such a low expense ratio is the preservation of returns over decades. Since both funds charge identically, cost differences do not disadvantage either option. Investors should focus on how each fund's construction affects their portfolio performance relative to these identical fees.

What do the inception dates indicate about historical data?

HDV launched earlier on 29 March 2011, while DGRO began trading on 10 June 2014. HDV offers a longer operational history, providing more extensive performance data over various market cycles. DGRO has a shorter but still substantial track record. While HDV has more available historical performance data, past results do not guarantee future outcomes for either fund. Investors should consider both periods when reviewing long-term potential.

How do the dividend yields of DGRO and HDV compare?

HDV currently displays a higher dividend yield of 2.99%, compared to DGRO's 1.94%. This 1.05 percentage point difference aligns with their respective objectives. The higher yield from HDV suggests a greater immediate income potential from its holdings. DGRO’s lower yield reflects a balance between current payouts and expected future dividend growth. The higher yield suggests greater income potential from HDV, while DGRO emphasises growth alongside income. This distinction is central to choosing between the funds based on investment goals.

How concentrated are the top holdings in these funds?

DGRO maintains notable diversification with its largest holding (AAPL) comprising only 3.12% of assets. HDV exhibits greater concentration, with Exxon Mobil (XOM) at 9.04% and Chevron (CVX) at 6.96%. This means HDV's performance is more heavily influenced by the energy sector, while DGRO spreads exposure across more companies. Higher concentration increases specific company risk but potentially boosts returns if those firms perform well.

Do DGRO and HDV hold similar companies?

Yes, there is significant overlap. Five companies appear in the top 10 holdings of both funds: XOM, ABBV, PG, PM, and HD. However, their weights differ substantially due to HDV's high-yield focus. For instance, HDV holds significantly larger positions in established high-dividend payers like PG and PM. DGRO balances these with holdings from growth sectors. Shared holdings suggest partial overlap in strategies.

Which fund has a larger asset base?

DGRO has a substantially larger asset base, managing $42.9 billion, compared to HDV's $15.6 billion. This larger size often contributes to tighter bid-ask spreads and higher liquidity. While HDV is still a sizeable fund, DGRO's significant net assets potentially offer operational advantages, including lower tracking error and greater market resilience during trading volatility. Investors benefit from this scale in practical terms.

What index benchmarks do these funds track?

Specific index information is not available in the provided fund data summary for either DGRO or HDV. Investors typically rely on this data to understand exact portfolio construction and benchmark performance comparison. Without confirmed index names, it is difficult to definitively assess how closely each fund tracks its intended market segment or compares against standard benchmarks for performance attribution.

Are sector weightings disclosed for DGRO and HDV?

Sector weightings are not available in the provided fund data summary for either DGRO or HDV. This missing information prevents a direct comparison of sector exposure, such as the likely higher weighting in energy for HDV versus potential tech exposure in DGRO. Without these details, investors cannot easily assess sector concentration risks relative to each other.

What are the primary sources for the fund data?

The data provided for this comparison, including expense ratios, net assets, dividend yields, and holdings, is sourced from Yahoo Finance and was fetched on September 22, 2026. Investors should be aware that financial data is dynamic. Always consult the fund issuer's official documentation for the most current and accurate information regarding fees, performance, and portfolio composition.

How do the net assets of these funds affect investors?

DGRO's significantly larger net assets ($42.9 billion vs. HDV's $15.6 billion) generally provide superior liquidity. This large fund size makes DGRO highly tradeable with potentially lower transaction costs (bid-ask spreads). While HDV is a viable fund, DGRO's size advantage makes it particularly suitable for investors making very large trades or those prioritising maximum liquidity and tight trading spreads.

DGRO vs HDV

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

Compare DGRO and HDV to understand their fees, holdings, dividends and market tracking. DGRO focuses on dividend growth, while HDV targets high dividend income. Explore their expense ratios, net assets and top holdings to see how each fund is constructed. Educational content, not financial advice.

Compare DGRO and HDV to understand their fees, holdings, dividends and market tracking. DGRO focuses on dividend growth, while HDV targets high dividend income. Explore their expense ratios, net asset...

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

DGRO

Metric

HDV

0.08%

Expense Ratio

0.08%

1.94%

Dividend Yield

2.99%

$42.93B

Net Assets

$15.56B

396

Holdings

81

Jun 10, 2014

Inception Date

Mar 29, 2011

–

Index Tracked

–

Large Value

Fund Category

Large Value

Both funds charge the same annual fee.

Shared Top Holdings

Holding	DGRO	HDV
XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corporation	3.06%	9.04%
ABBVAbbVie Inc.	2.87%	6.55%
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company	2.31%	5.26%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc.	2.16%	4.92%
HDThe Home Depot, Inc.	1.98%	4.52%

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Investment Analysis

DGRO

Pros

DGRO boasts a low 0.08% expense ratio, ensuring minimal ongoing costs for long-term investors.
It manages substantial assets of $42.9 billion, providing strong liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads.
The fund offers a well-diversified portfolio with a maximum top holding weight of only 3.12%.

Considerations

The dividend yield of 1.94% is modest compared to many dedicated high-income equity strategies.
DGRO’s inception date of June 2014 provides a shorter track record than some older ETFs.
Specific index methodology details are not available in the provided fund data summary.

HDV

Pros

HDV delivers a higher dividend yield of 2.99%, appealing to income-focused investors seeking cash flow.
Managed by iShares, it benefits from the issuer's established reputation for operational efficiency and scale.
It maintains a competitive 0.08% expense ratio, matching the low cost of its dividend-growth peer.

Considerations

HDV exhibits greater concentration with XOM at 9.04% and CVX at 6.96% of total assets.
The fund's net assets of $15.6 billion are significantly smaller than its comparable dividend-growth alternative.
Like DGRO, specific index methodology details are not available in the provided fund data summary.

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About DGRO and HDV

DGRO (DGRO)

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is designed to provide investors with exposure to US companies that have a history of increasing their dividend payouts. This fund targets large-cap equities with sustainable dividend growth strategies rather than just high current yields. With an attractive low expense ratio of 0.08% and substantial net assets of USD 42.93 billion, it offers broad diversification across 396 holdings. The fund’s focus on large value stocks aims to balance income potential with capital appreciation opportunities. Investors should note that while the current dividend yield is approximately 1.94%, payouts are not guaranteed and can fluctuate based on company performance and market conditions. As with any equity investment, the value of shares can rise and fall, meaning returns are not assured. It serves as a general educational example for those interested in dividend-growth strategies within the broader market.

HDV (HDV)

iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is an exchange-traded fund that targets higher-yielding, primarily US large‑cap companies selected for dividend sustainability and financial strength. It offers investors a focused route to regular income through dividend distributions while still exposing them to equity market movements and potential capital growth. Compared with broad-market ETFs, HDV typically holds fewer holdings and may show sector or style concentration, which can amplify both returns and risks. Dividend levels depend on company payouts and can fall or stop entirely; past distributions do not guarantee future income. Fees, index rules and market conditions all influence outcomes. This information is general and educational, not personalised financial advice. Investors should consider their objectives, risk tolerance and seek professional advice where appropriate before investing.

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DGRO vs HDV

Fund Snapshot