Two of the market's most popular income ETFs compared side-by-side. See which one fits your yield strategy.
What this means: Both NOBL and SDY fall intoTier 1: Cornerstone. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | NOBL | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.69% | 9.07% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 5.29% | 6.33% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.24% | -17.53% |
| Beta | - | - |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
NOBL (ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by ProShares. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $11.1B 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.
SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend) is a conservative dividend growth fund managed by SPDR. It focuses on generating income through strategic holdings. With $19.9B 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.
In the head-to-head battle of NOBL vs SDY, the choice depends on your specific goal. SDY wins for Immediate Income with a 2.74% yield. However, SDY 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:
NOBL
Annual Yield: 2.40%
$200/mo
($2,404/year)
Frequency: quarterly
SDY
Annual Yield: 2.74%
$228/mo
($2,735/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: SDY generates $331/year more than NOBL on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $6,617 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. SDY has delivered a superior Total Return of 9.07% 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.