A head-to-head comparison of State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DIA.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO.
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Issuer
State Street
Vanguard
Last Close
$524.83 as of July 16, 2026
$690.14 as of July 16, 2026
Distribution yield
3.21%
1.14%
Distribution Safety Score
72
100
Expense ratio
0.16%
0.03%
AUM
$44.9B
$1033B
Distribution frequency
Monthly
Quarterly
Underlying index
Dow Jones Industrial Average
S&P 500 Index
Objective
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
01/14/1998
09/07/2010
Beta
0.84
1.0
Last dividend
$1.4054
$1.9622
Ex-dividend date
07/17/2026
06/26/2026
Bottom lineChoose DIA if you want higher current income (3.21% vs 1.14% for VOO). Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
Most used
Income calculator
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
DIA has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.05% total return against 22.11%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.18% a year, against 13.18% for DIA. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.
Quick verdict
DIA (State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
DIA offers the higher yield at 3.21% vs 1.14% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.16%.
They track different benchmarks: DIA is linked to Dow Jones Industrial Average while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1033B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose DIA
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust
Want higher current income — DIA yields 3.21% vs 1.14% for VOO.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.8 vs 1.0 for VOO.
Choose VOO
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.16% for DIA.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, DIA would generate roughly $26.75/month, while VOO would produce $9.50/month, at current distribution rates.
DIA yield3.21%
VOO yield1.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$17.25
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, DIA would cost approximately $160 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $130.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
DIA ER0.16%
VOO ER0.03%
Strategy & risk
DIA tracks Dow Jones Industrial Average with an index approach, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 0.84 for DIA and 1.0 for VOO, indicating DIA is less volatile relative to the market.
DIA beta0.84
VOO beta1.0
Fund details
DIA is managed by State Street (launched 01/14/1998) with $44.9B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1033B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DIA or VOO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DIA 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.
What is the difference between DIA and VOO?
DIA (State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust) tracks Dow Jones Industrial Average with an index approach, while VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by State Street and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both DIA and VOO?
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.
Which has lower fees, DIA or VOO?
DIA has an expense ratio of 0.16% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in DIA vs VOO generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in DIA would generate roughly $26.75 per month ($321.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.50 per month ($114.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, DIA or VOO?
DIA has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.05% total return against 22.11%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.18% a year, against 13.18% for DIA. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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