DGRO vs SPHY: ETF Comparison
Compare DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) and SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) side by side by average annual total return since inception — one fair number covering price and dividends.
Updated Sep 15, 2026
*For entertainment purposes ONLY! NOT financial advice! Data may be inaccurate.*
DGRO vs SPHY: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, DGRO holds a clear edge over SPHY: +12.4% per year vs +4.9% per year — a gap of 7.5 percentage points annually. Total return counts both price movement and dividends, so this is the whole picture of each fund's performance, not just yield.
Income investors will notice the yield gap: SPHY currently yields 7.54% vs DGRO's 2.0%. Higher yield often comes with trade-offs in price appreciation, which is exactly why total return is the fairer scoreboard.
DGRO vs SPHY Side-by-Side Data
| Symbol | Name | Provider | Inception | Age | Total Return | Avg. Annual Return | Yield | Expense Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGRO | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | iShares | 6/10/2014 | 12.3y | +319.0% | +12.4% | 2.0% | 0.08% | A |
| SPHY | State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | State Street | 6/18/2012 | 14.2y | +97.0% | +4.9% | 7.54% | 0.05% | D |
DGRO vs SPHY — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, DGRO or SPHY?
By average annual total return since inception, DGRO holds a clear edge over SPHY (+12.4% vs +4.9% per year). "Better" depends on your goals — yield, payout frequency, and strategy differ between the two funds.
What is the difference between DGRO and SPHY?
DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) is offered by iShares and currently yields 2.0%. SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) is offered by State Street and yields 7.54%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +12.4% and +4.9% respectively.
Does DGRO pay a higher dividend than SPHY?
DGRO currently yields 2.0% and SPHY yields 7.54%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.