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 21, 2026
Best for
DWXInvestors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market.
IDVInvestors who want higher current income (4.83% vs 3.19% for DWX).
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.
DWX has lagged IDV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 14.82% total return against 28.05%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IDV has compounded at 10.41% a year, against 7.41% 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 21, 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 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.
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.
Bottom lineChoose DWX if you want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market. Choose IDV if you want higher current income (4.83% vs 3.19% for DWX).
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.
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.
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.
IDV offers the higher yield at 4.83% vs 3.19% for DWX. 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 ($8.51B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose DWX
SPDR® S&P International Dividend ETF
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.45% expense ratio vs 0.50% for IDV.
Choose IDV
iShares International Select Dividend ETF
Want higher current income — IDV yields 4.83% vs 3.19% for DWX.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track DWX & IDV for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, DWX would generate roughly $26.58/month, while IDV would produce $40.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
DWX yield3.19%
IDV yield4.83%
Monthly diff on $10K$13.67
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 $523M in assets. IDV is managed by iShares (launched 06/11/2007) with $8.51B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for DWX and IDV?
DWX currently distributes 3.19% and IDV 4.83%, 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. IDV 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 87, 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 $26.58 per month ($319.00 annually). The same in IDV would produce about $40.25 per month ($483.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, DWX or IDV?
DWX has lagged IDV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 14.82% total return against 28.05%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IDV has compounded at 10.41% a year, against 7.41% for DWX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
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