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.
NOBL has lagged SDY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 7.78% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NOBL has compounded at 9.53% a year, ahead of SDY at 9.03%. 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 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 Oct 2013” measures every fund from October 10, 2013 — 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.
Distribution rate and SEC yield
Metric
NOBL
SDY
Forward distribution rate
2.08%
2.49%
Trailing 12-month yield
2.16%
2.56%
30-day SEC yield
2.09%
—
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Seeks to track the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, investing at least 80% of total assets in S&P 500 companies that have raised their dividend every year for at least 25 consecutive years.
Seeks to track the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, holding the highest-yielding S&P Composite 1500 constituents that have raised dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years.
Bottom lineNOBL and SDY are both for investors who want a quality-dividend tilt rather than the whole market — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Fees and payouts are close too, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
ProShares is known for offering leveraged and inverse ETFs that provide amplified exposure to market movements, along with thematic and income-focused strategies. Their fund lineup spans digital assets (including Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure through BITO and EETH), dividend strategies like the Dividend Aristocrats fund (NOBL), covered call income strategies, and leveraged/inverse products that track major indices with 2x or 3x daily multipliers (such as SSO and TQQQ for tech-heavy portfolios). With 23 ETFs across specialized families including leveraged products, money market funds, and sector-specific offerings, ProShares serves investors seeking both traditional income and alternative exposure strategies.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on NOBL.
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 SDY.
NOBL (ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF) and SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
SDY offers the higher yield at 2.49% vs 2.08% for NOBL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
They have different reference exposures: NOBL is linked to S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index while SDY is linked to S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SDY is the larger fund by assets ($20.7B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, NOBL would generate roughly $52.00 cash per distribution, while SDY would produce $62.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
NOBL yield2.08%
SDY yield2.49%
Cash diff on $10K$10.25
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, NOBL would cost approximately $350 in fees vs $350 for SDY (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.
NOBL ER0.35%
SDY ER0.35%
Strategy & risk
NOBL tracks S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, while SDY tracks S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index with a dividend approach. Beta is 0.58 for NOBL and 0.55 for SDY — effectively similar market sensitivity.
NOBL beta0.58
SDY beta0.55
Fund details
NOBL is managed by ProShares (launched 10/09/2013) with $11.1B in assets. SDY is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $20.7B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NOBL and SDY?
Both buy companies with long dividend-increase streaks, but the rulebooks differ. NOBL (ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF) tracks S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index — S&P 500 members with 25 years of raises. SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) tracks S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, a broader aristocrat list that can include mid caps with a 20-year streak. Cost is 0.35% versus 0.35%; distributions are 2.08% and 2.49% as of October 2026. The decision is how strict and how broad you want the aristocrat screen, not a near-tie yield.
What is the current distribution rate for NOBL and SDY?
NOBL currently distributes 2.08% and SDY 2.49%, 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 NOBL or SDY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SDY 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 NOBL and SDY?
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 NOBL or SDY 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: NOBL scores 96, SDY scores 95. 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, NOBL or SDY?
NOBL and SDY both charge the same expense ratio of 0.35%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.
How much income does $10,000 in NOBL vs SDY generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in NOBL would generate roughly $52.00 cash per distribution ($208.00 annually). The same in SDY would produce about $62.25 cash per distribution ($249.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, NOBL or SDY?
NOBL has lagged SDY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 7.78% total return against 8.20%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NOBL has compounded at 9.53% a year, ahead of SDY at 9.03%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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