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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

DGRO vs DGRW: Same Idea, Different Growth Screen

A head-to-head of iShares Core Dividend Growth and WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth covering how each index is built, cost, and income.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • DGROInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
  • DGRWInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

DGRO has outpaced DGRW over the trailing twelve months, posting a 13.17% total return against 11.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRW has compounded at 13.99% a year, ahead of DGRO at 13.26%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Jun 2014Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DGRO10.08%13.17%18.09%10.83%13.26%12.10%11.7%1.041.52-14.0%
DGRW10.35%11.56%17.46%12.45%13.99%12.73%12.6%0.931.35-16.2%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jun 2014” measures every fund from June 12, 2014 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDGRODGRW
Full nameiShares Core Dividend Growth ETFWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund
IssueriSharesWisdomTree
Underlying indexMorningstar US Dividend Growth IndexBasket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks)
Last Close$75.77 as of October 2, 2026$98.16 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate2.03%2.08%
Trailing 12-month yield1.97%1.21%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10085
Safety-Adjusted Yield 2.03%1.77%
Expense ratio0.08%0.28%
AUM$42.5B$17.1B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyMonthly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index, which measures the performance of U.S. equities with a history of consistently growing dividends. Companies must have a payout ratio less than 75% and are excluded if in the top decile based on dividend yield.Seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index, a fundamentally weighted index of dividend-paying U.S. common stocks with growth characteristics.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/10/201405/22/2013
Beta0.660.82
Last dividend$0.385$0.17
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/25/2026

Bottom lineDGRO and DGRW are both for investors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: DGRO charges 0.08% against 0.28% for DGRW, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

DGRO vs DGRW: two dividend-growth rulebooks

Both screens want companies that raise payouts. The live difference is which index, what quality tilt, and what you pay — not a small yield gap.

DGRODGRW
IndexMorningstar US Dividend Growth IndexBasket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks)
Screen emphasisBroad US dividend-growth coreWisdomTree quality dividend-growth rules
Expense ratio0.08%0.28%
Distribution rate2.03%2.08%
Fund size$42.5B$17.1B
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4683B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRO.

See all iShares ETFs
WisdomTree
ETFs94
Total AUM$102B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

WisdomTree is known for developing thematic and factor-based ETFs that go beyond traditional market-cap weighting approaches. The issuer maintains a broad lineup spanning dividend and income strategies, international equities, commodities, bonds, digital assets, and specialized thematic areas like megatrends and alternatives. WisdomTree's diverse fund family appeals to investors seeking both traditional income exposure and more specialized strategies, with popular tickers across equity, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRW.

See all WisdomTree ETFs

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Quick verdict

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) and DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DGRW offers the higher yield at 2.08% vs 2.03% for DGRO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

DGRO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.28%.

They have different reference exposures: DGRO is linked to Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index while DGRW is linked to Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks), which means their performance drivers differ.

DGRO is the larger fund by assets ($42.5B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRO would generate roughly $50.75 cash per distribution, while DGRW would produce $17.33 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

DGRO yield2.03%
DGRW yield2.08%
Cash diff on $10K$33.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRO would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $280 for DGRW (simplified, not compounded). The $200.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRO ER0.08%
DGRW ER0.28%

Strategy & risk

DGRO tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, while DGRW tracks Basket (WisdomTree U.S. Dividend Growth Fund stocks). Beta is 0.66 for DGRO and 0.82 for DGRW, making DGRO the less volatile of the two by this measure.

DGRO beta0.66
DGRW beta0.82

Fund details

DGRO is managed by iShares (launched 06/10/2014) with $42.5B in assets. DGRW is managed by WisdomTree (launched 05/22/2013) with $17.1B in assets.

DGRO AUM$42.5B
DGRW AUM$17.1B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DGRO and DGRW?

Both hunt US companies that grow their dividends, but the screens differ. DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index. DGRW (WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund) uses WisdomTree's quality dividend-growth rules. Cost is 0.08% versus 0.28%; distributions are 2.03% and 2.08% as of October 2026. Yield is not the point of either fund — a grower screen is supposed to look past the current payout. Compare holdings overlap, sector weights, and total return rather than which yield is larger today.

What is the current distribution rate for DGRO and DGRW?

DGRO currently distributes 2.03% and DGRW 2.08%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DGRO or DGRW better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGRW currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Can I hold both DGRO and DGRW?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is DGRO or DGRW safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — DGRO scores 100, DGRW scores 85, so DGRO's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. DGRO has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.66 vs 0.82 for DGRW). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DGRO or DGRW?

DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% while DGRW charges 0.28%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs DGRW generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $50.75 cash per distribution ($203.00 annually). The same in DGRW would produce about $17.33 cash per distribution ($208.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DGRO or DGRW?

DGRO has outpaced DGRW over the trailing twelve months, posting a 13.17% total return against 11.56%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — DGRW has compounded at 13.99% a year, ahead of DGRO at 13.26%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DGRO vs DGRW — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

DGRO and DGRW are both U.S. equity ETFs designed to capture dividend growth, but they differ in index construction and distribution mechanics. DGRO tracks the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index using market-cap weighting and excludes high-yielding stocks to focus on growth; DGRW uses WisdomTree's fundamental weighting approach on a quality-screened, dividend-paying universe. The funds trade off simplicity and cost against weighting philosophy and payout frequency.

How they differ

DGRO's index is market-cap weighted and explicitly excludes the top dividend-yield decile, tilting the portfolio toward lower-yielding dividend growers. DGRW uses fundamental weighting (a rules-based approach that weights stocks by dividends, earnings, or sales rather than market cap), potentially creating different sector and size exposures within a similar dividend-growth framework.

0.08% for DGRO versus 0.28% for DGRW reflects both the issuer's cost structure and the complexity of fundamental indexing.

Beta tells a similar story: DGRO's 0.66 suggests lower volatility relative to the broad market, while DGRW's 0.82 indicates slightly more movement. Both funds have substantial assets—DGRO at $42.5B and DGRW at $17.1B—though DGRO's larger asset base reflects its earlier and broader appeal. The 0.08% fee and straightforward index make it suitable for buy-and-hold portfolios where quarterly reinvestment is acceptable.

DGRW: Designed for investors who believe fundamental weighting can generate better long-term returns in dividend stocks and who value monthly income payouts for spending or planning purposes, despite the 0.2% higher annual cost.

Key risks to know

  • Index construction divergence. DGRW's fundamental weighting can concentrate holdings differently than market-cap weighting; the two funds' underlying stock baskets may overlap substantially but with meaningfully different position sizes, creating performance gaps unrelated to dividend fundamentals.
  • Yield sustainability at the portfolio level. Both funds screen for dividend quality (payout ratios, growth history), but fundamental weighting in DGRW may skew toward lower-market-cap names where dividend growth is less tested through multiple economic cycles than larger-cap peers.
  • Beta and market sensitivity. DGRW's 0.82 versus DGRO's 0.66 means DGRW amplifies broader market downturns more, which can pressure dividend payouts during recessions when companies cut distributions to preserve capital. Neither fund is "better"—the choice hinges on your index philosophy, cash-flow needs, and conviction about fundamental weighting's edge. Past performance of either index does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.