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ETF Comparison

DWX vs IDV: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of SPDR® S&P International Dividend ETF and iShares International Select Dividend ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • DWXInvestors who want higher current income (5.55% vs 5.03% for IDV).
  • IDVInvestors 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

DWX has lagged IDV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.76% total return against 32.44%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IDV has compounded at 10.23% a year, against 7.14% for DWX. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Feb 2008Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
DWX11.56%17.76%17.16%8.12%7.14%2.83%11.1%1.031.47-10.6%
IDV16.55%32.44%27.31%13.64%10.23%6.04%13.8%1.432.05-11.9%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Feb 2008” measures every fund from February 19, 2008 — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricDWXIDV
Full nameSPDR® S&P International Dividend ETFiShares International Select Dividend ETF
IssuerState StreetiShares
Last Close$48.19 as of September 4, 2026$45.24 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate5.55%5.03%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7889
Safety-Adjusted Yield 4.33%4.48%
Expense ratio0.45%0.50%
AUM$530M$8.74B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying index—Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index
Objective—Seeks to track the Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index, investing at least 80% of assets in 100 high dividend-paying companies across Europe, the Pacific, Asia and Canada.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date02/12/200806/11/2007
Beta0.690.71
Last dividend$0.669$1.102
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/15/2026

Bottom lineChoose DWX if you want higher current income (5.55% vs 5.03% for IDV). Choose IDV if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.

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Income calculator

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State Street
ETFs179
Total AUM$2129B

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 DWX.

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iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

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 IDV.

See all iShares ETFs

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Quick verdict

DWX (SPDR® S&P International Dividend ETF) and IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DWX offers the higher yield at 5.55% vs 5.03% for IDV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

DWX is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.45% compared to 0.50%.

IDV is the larger fund by assets ($8.74B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DWX would generate roughly $46.25/month, while IDV would produce $41.92/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DWX yield5.55%
IDV yield5.03%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.33

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DWX would cost approximately $450 in fees vs $500 for IDV (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DWX ER0.45%
IDV ER0.50%

Strategy & risk

DWX is an ETF built around international dividend exposure, while IDV tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index. Beta is 0.69 for DWX and 0.71 for IDV — effectively similar market sensitivity.

DWX beta0.69
IDV beta0.71

Fund details

DWX is managed by State Street (launched 02/12/2008) with $530M in assets. IDV is managed by iShares (launched 06/11/2007) with $8.74B in assets.

DWX AUM$530M
IDV AUM$8.74B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for DWX and IDV?

DWX currently distributes 5.55% and IDV 5.03%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is DWX or IDV better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DWX 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 DWX and IDV?

DWX (SPDR® S&P International Dividend ETF) is an ETF built around international dividend exposure, while IDV (iShares International Select Dividend ETF) tracks Dow Jones EPAC Select Dividend Index. They are issued by State Street and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both DWX and IDV?

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 DWX or IDV safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IDV scores 89, DWX scores 78, so IDV's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, DWX or IDV?

DWX has an expense ratio of 0.45% while IDV charges 0.50%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DWX vs IDV generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DWX would generate roughly $46.25 per month ($555.00 annually). The same in IDV would produce about $41.92 per month ($503.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, DWX or IDV?

DWX has lagged IDV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 17.76% total return against 32.44%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IDV has compounded at 10.23% a year, against 7.14% for DWX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

DWX vs IDV — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

DWX and IDV are both ETFs targeting high-dividend-paying international stocks across developed markets in Europe, the Pacific, and Asia. The funds overlap significantly in strategy but differ in fund size, yield, and underlying index construction.

How they differ

IDV is substantially larger, with $8.74B in assets versus $530M for DWX, which typically means tighter trading spreads and lower market-impact costs for large orders. Both funds pay distributions quarterly and share a similar beta profile (DWX at 0.69 and IDV at 0.71), indicating comparable sensitivity to broader international equity swings. The main structural difference is IDV's explicit 100-stock limit, which may produce more concentrated positions than DWX's approach.

Who each is best for

DWX: Fits investors prioritizing yield and willing to accept a smaller fund with potentially wider bid-ask spreads; the higher distribution rate appeals to those building current income from international dividend stocks.

IDV: Fits investors who value larger fund scale, lower trading friction, and index transparency; the explicit 100-stock framework appeals to those seeking a clearly defined and rules-based international dividend exposure.

Key risks to know

  • International dividend concentration. Both funds rely on a narrow universe of high-dividend payers across developed markets. If dividend-paying stocks underperform growth stocks globally, or if dividend cuts accelerate in Europe or Asia, both funds face simultaneous headwinds.
  • Currency exposure. Neither fund appears to hedge foreign exchange risk, so weakness in the euro, pound, or yen against the dollar will reduce reported returns for U.S.-based investors, independent of underlying stock performance.
  • Index methodology overlap. DWX and IDV track different indexes, but their selection criteria (high dividends, international developed markets) are similar enough that holdings likely overlap substantially. Portfolio concentration risk may be higher than either fund's individual size suggests.
  • Yield sustainability. DWX's 5.55% yield is meaningfully higher than IDV's; if that excess derives from higher leverage, derivatives, or looser dividend-coverage standards, it may not be repeatable during market stress or dividend contractions.

Bottom line

If you want the highest current income from an international dividend strategy, DWX's 5.55% yield stands out, though you'll accept a smaller fund and narrower trading liquidity. If you prioritize fund size, tight spreads, and a transparent 100-stock index mandate, IDV's $8.74B scale and 0.50% fee offset its lower yield. Both carry currency risk and depend on sustained international dividend policy; past performance 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.

What the distribution rate really tells you Why a high yield isn't high income How to read a fund's stats

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