DGRO
Safe
High confidence
ETF Comparison
DGRO vs DIVB: Growing Dividends, or Dividends Plus Buybacks?
A head-to-head of iShares Core Dividend Growth and iShares Core Dividend covering how each defines a capital-return stock.
Updated November 4, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- DGROInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
- DIVBInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
DIVB
Safe
High confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  DGRO | DIVB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | iShares Core Dividend ETF |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| Underlying index | Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index | Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index |
| Last Close | $82.54 as of November 4, 2026 | $72.38 as of November 4, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 1.87% | 2.34% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 1.81% | 2.05% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 100 | 100 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 1.87% | 2.34% |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| AUM | $45.1B | $2.32B |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Objective | Seeks 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. | Track the Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index, combining dividend yield with share repurchase activity. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 06/10/2014 | 11/07/2017 |
| Beta | 0.66 | 0.8 |
| Last dividend | $0.385 | $0.424 |
| Ex-dividend date | 09/15/2026 | 09/15/2026 |
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 lagged DIVB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.72% total return against 44.49%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: DIVB has compounded at 14.57% a year, against 11.50% for DGRO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | Since Nov 2017 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGRO | 20.57% | 24.72% | 20.91% | 11.50% | 13.23% | 11.7% | 1.28 | 1.89 | -14.0% |
| DIVB | 38.62% | 44.49% | 27.84% | 14.57% | 15.33% | 13.7% | 1.50 | 2.23 | -15.5% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 4, 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 Nov 2017” measures every fund from November 9, 2017 — 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.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineChoose DGRO if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose DIVB if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
DGRO vs DIVB: growing dividends or buybacks too?
DGRO wants a dividend-growth record. DIVB counts dividends and buybacks. Screen rules are the split.
| DGRO | DIVB | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | US dividend growth | Dividends and buybacks |
| Expense ratio | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Distribution rate | 1.87% | 2.34% |
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs468
Total AUM$4.63T
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRO and DIVB.
Quick verdict
DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) and DIVB (iShares Core Dividend ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
DIVB offers the higher yield at 2.34% vs 1.87% for DGRO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
DIVB is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.05% compared to 0.08%.
They have different reference exposures: DGRO is linked to Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index while DIVB is linked to Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
DGRO is the larger fund by assets ($45.1B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
4 shared positions
DGRO 11.9% of its top-10 weight
DIVB 8.9% of its top-10 weight
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, DGRO would pay about $187.00 a year (about $46.75 per quarterly distribution), while DIVB would pay about $234.00 a year (about $58.50 per quarterly distribution). Both pay quarterly distributions.
DGRO yield1.87%
DIVB yield2.34%
Annual cash diff on $10K$47.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRO would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $50 for DIVB (simplified, not compounded). The $30.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
DGRO ER0.08%
DIVB ER0.05%
Strategy & risk
DGRO tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index, while DIVB tracks Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index with a dividend approach. Beta is 0.66 for DGRO and 0.8 for DIVB, making DGRO the less sensitive to market moves of the two by this measure.
DGRO beta0.66
DIVB beta0.8
Fund details
DGRO is managed by iShares (launched 06/10/2014) with $45.1B in assets. DIVB is managed by iShares (launched 11/07/2017) with $2.32B in assets.
DGRO AUM$45.1B
DIVB AUM$2.32B
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DGRO and DIVB?
DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) screens US companies that have grown dividends. DIVB (iShares Core Dividend ETF) tracks firms that return cash through dividends and buybacks. Cost is 0.08% versus 0.05%; distributions are 1.87% and 2.34% as of November 2026. Dividend growth versus buybacks-plus-dividends is the split.
What is the current distribution rate for DGRO and DIVB?
DGRO currently distributes 1.87% and DIVB 2.34%, based on fund data updated November 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 DIVB better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DIVB 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 DIVB?
You can, but expect meaningful overlap: 4 of the disclosed top-10 positions are shared (see the holdings-overlap section above). Holding both may double up on the same underlying names rather than diversify.
Is DGRO or DIVB safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: DGRO scores 100, DIVB scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
Which has lower fees, DGRO or DIVB?
DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% while DIVB charges 0.05%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs DIVB generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in DGRO would pay about $187.00 a year (about $46.75 per quarterly distribution). $10,000 in DIVB would pay about $234.00 a year (about $58.50 per quarterly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, DGRO or DIVB?
DGRO has lagged DIVB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.72% total return against 44.49%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: DIVB has compounded at 14.57% a year, against 11.50% for DGRO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Dividend dates and history
DGRO vs DIVB — at a glance
Generated October 31, 2026.
Overview
DGRO and DIVB are both iShares equity ETFs focused on U.S. dividend-paying stocks, but they track different indexes with distinct selection criteria. DGRO targets companies with a history of consistently growing dividends and excludes high-yield payers, while DIVB combines dividend yield with share buyback activity as its selection mechanism. The funds differ in asset size, yield, fees, and market sensitivity.
How they differ
The core difference is selection philosophy: DGRO screens for dividend growth history with a payout ratio cap and actively excludes the highest-yielding 10% of stocks, while DIVB looks for current dividend yield combined with buyback momentum without those constraints. This explains DIVB's higher distribution rate of 2.34% versus DGRO's 1.87%, a 48 basis-point gap.
DGRO is substantially larger, with $45.1B in assets compared to $2.32B for DIVB. On market sensitivity, DGRO has a beta of 0.66 while DIVB's is 0.8, suggesting DGRO moves less with broad stock market swings, consistent with its tilt toward established dividend growers.
Who each is best for
- DGRO: Fits investors seeking a core holding with lower market sensitivity who prioritize capital appreciation alongside dividend income and prefer to avoid the highest-yielding segments of the market.
- DIVB: Designed for investors who want a higher immediate dividend yield and are comfortable with buyback-heavy large-cap exposure as an alternative signal of shareholder returns.
Key risks to know
- Index overlap and exposure drift: Both funds track Morningstar indexes with similar broad large-cap universes. Their holdings may overlap significantly; the degree of actual diversification between them is worth investigating.
- Dividend growth sustainability in DGRO: The Morningstar Dividend Growth Index requires a history of consistent payout growth, but past growth doesn't guarantee future increases. Economic downturns or sector headwinds could break growth streaks and force index reconstitution.
Bottom line
If you prioritize lower volatility, lower costs, and a tilt toward dividend growth over current yield, DGRO's larger asset base and lower beta offer a more defensive profile. If you want a higher immediate payout and believe buyback activity signals shareholder-friendly management, DIVB delivers more current income, though at the cost of less diversification by size and higher expense ratio. Past performance doesn't 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.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.