Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: Both HDV and UL fall intoTier 1: Cornerstone. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | HDV | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 11.80% | 5.39% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 8.01% | 1.71% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.04% | -16.06% |
| Beta | - | - |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
HDV (iShares Core High Dividend) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by iShares. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $12.0B in assets under management, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
UL (Unilever PLC) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by Unilever PLC. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With significant capital, this fund has been operational since its inception.
Strategy: Focuses on quality dividend-paying companies with strong balance sheets and consistent payout histories.
In the head-to-head battle of HDV vs UL, the choice depends on your specific goal. HDV wins for Immediate Income with a 3.79% yield. However, HDV is the better choice for Long-Term Growth due to superior total return performance.
Which fund is safer for retirement income? We analyze the yield sustainability and structural risk.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
HDV
Annual Yield: 3.79%
$316/mo
($3,792/year)
Frequency: quarterly
UL
Annual Yield: 3.68%
$307/mo
($3,678/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: HDV generates $114/year more than UL on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $2,270 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Higher income doesn't always mean better investment. Review the "Yield Trap" and "Total Return" sections above—you want income that's sustainable, not just headline-grabbing.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. HDV has delivered a superior Total Return of 11.80% over the past year.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.