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IWD vs. DGRO: What’s The Difference?

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) and the iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. IWD is a iShares Large Value fund and DGRO is a iShares Large Value fund. So, what’s the difference between IWD and DGRO? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of IWD is 0.11 percentage points higher than DGRO’s (0.19% vs. 0.08%). IWD also has a higher exposure to the financial services sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, IWD has provided lower returns than DGRO over the past ten years.

In this article, we’ll compare IWD vs. DGRO. We’ll look at performance and fund composition, as well as at their holdings and risk metrics. Moreover, I’ll also discuss IWD’s and DGRO’s industry exposure, portfolio growth, and annual returns and examine how these affect their overall returns.

Summary

IWDDGRO
NameiShares Russell 1000 Value ETFiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF
CategoryLarge ValueLarge Value
IssueriSharesiShares
AUM54.1B20B
Avg. Return11.40%12.46%
Div. Yield1.57%2.04%
Expense Ratio0.19%0.08%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) is a Large Value fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 54.1B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 11.40% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.57% with an expense ratio of 0.19%.

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is a Large Value fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 20B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 12.46% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.04% with an expense ratio of 0.08%.

IWD’s dividend yield is 0.47% lower than that of DGRO (1.57% vs. 2.04%). Also, IWD yielded on average 1.06% less per year over the past decade (11.40% vs. 12.46%). The expense ratio of IWD is 0.11 percentage points higher than DGRO’s (0.19% vs. 0.08%).

Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

IWD vs. DGRO - Industry Exposure

IWDDGRO
Technology10.28%18.98%
Industrials11.77%12.52%
Energy4.76%0.11%
Communication Services8.67%4.53%
Utilities4.88%7.34%
Healthcare17.78%17.55%
Consumer Defensive7.76%10.24%
Real Estate4.94%0.0%
Financial Services20.43%18.47%
Consumer Cyclical5.62%7.42%
Basic Materials3.1%2.83%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 20.43%. This is followed by Healthcare and Industrials at 17.78% and 11.77% respectively. Energy (4.76%), Utilities (4.88%), and Real Estate (4.94%) only make up 14.58% of the fund’s total assets.

IWD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Communication Services, Technology, and Industrials stocks at 5.62%, 7.76%, 8.67%, 10.28%, and 11.77%.

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 18.98%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 18.47% and 17.55% respectively. Energy (0.11%), Basic Materials (2.83%), and Communication Services (4.53%) only make up 7.47% of the fund’s total assets.

DGRO’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Utilities, Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Industrials, and Healthcare stocks at 7.34%, 7.42%, 10.24%, 12.52%, and 17.55%.

IWD is 1.96% more exposed to the Financial Services sector than DGRO (20.43% vs 18.47%). IWD’s exposure to Healthcare and Industrials stocks is 0.23% higher and 0.75% lower respectively (17.78% vs. 17.55% and 11.77% vs. 12.52%). In total, Energy, Utilities, and Real Estate also make up 7.13% more of the fund’s holdings compared to DGRO (14.58% vs. 7.45%).

Holdings

IWD - Holdings

IWD HoldingsWeight
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B2.58%
JPMorgan Chase & Co2.25%
Johnson & Johnson2.24%
UnitedHealth Group Inc1.78%
Procter & Gamble Co1.71%
The Walt Disney Co1.5%
Bank of America Corp1.43%
Comcast Corp Class A1.33%
Exxon Mobil Corp1.2%
Pfizer Inc1.18%

IWD’s Top Holdings are Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group Inc, and Procter & Gamble Co at 2.58%, 2.25%, 2.24%, 1.78%, and 1.71%.

The Walt Disney Co (1.5%), Bank of America Corp (1.43%), and Comcast Corp Class A (1.33%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Exxon Mobil Corp and Pfizer Inc are also represented in the IWD’s holdings at 1.2% and 1.18%.

DGRO - Holdings

DGRO HoldingsWeight
Microsoft Corp3.29%
Apple Inc3.26%
Pfizer Inc2.89%
Johnson & Johnson2.87%
Procter & Gamble Co2.79%
Verizon Communications Inc2.68%
JPMorgan Chase & Co2.57%
The Home Depot Inc2.35%
Merck & Co Inc2.11%
Cisco Systems Inc1.98%

DGRO’s Top Holdings are Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble Co at 3.29%, 3.26%, 2.89%, 2.87%, and 2.79%.

Verizon Communications Inc (2.68%), JPMorgan Chase & Co (2.57%), and The Home Depot Inc (2.35%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Merck & Co Inc and Cisco Systems Inc are also represented in the DGRO’s holdings at 2.11% and 1.98%.

Risk Analysis

IWDDGRO
Mean Return1.030
R-squared92.380
Std. Deviation14.350
Alpha-3.230
Beta1.020
Sharpe Ratio0.810
Treynor Ratio11.060

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has a Alpha of -3.23 with a R-squared of 92.38 and a Mean Return of 1.03. Its Treynor Ratio is 11.06 while IWD’s Beta is 1.02. Furthermore, the fund has a Standard Deviation of 14.35 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.81.

The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) has a Mean Return of 0 with a Alpha of 0 and a R-squared of 0. Its Standard Deviation is 0 while DGRO’s Treynor Ratio is 0. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 0 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.

IWD’s Mean Return is 1.03 points higher than that of DGRO and its R-squared is 92.38 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 14.35, IWD is slightly more volatile than DGRO. The Alpha and Beta of IWD are 3.23 points lower and 1.02 points higher than DGRO’s Alpha and Beta.

Performance

Annual Returns

IWD vs. DGRO - Annual Returns

YearIWDDGRO
20202.67%9.47%
201926.34%30.02%
2018-8.4%-2.24%
201713.47%22.84%
201617.09%15.27%
2015-3.95%-0.62%
201413.21%0.0%
201332.18%0.0%
201217.28%0.0%
20110.21%0.0%
201015.3%0.0%

IWD had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.18%. IWD’s worst year over the past decade yielded -8.4% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2017, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 13.21%, 13.47%, and 15.3% respectively.

The year 2019 was the strongest year for DGRO, returning 30.02% on an annual basis. The poorest year for DGRO in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -2.24%. Most years the iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2012, 2011, and 2010, when gains were 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

IWD vs. DGRO - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
IWD$10,000$15,16211.40%
DGRO$10,000$19,58012.46%

A $10,000 investment in IWD would have resulted in a final balance of $15,162. This is a profit of $5,162 over 6 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.40%.

With a $10,000 investment in DGRO, the end total would have been $19,580. This equates to a $9,580 profit over 6 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.46%.

IWD’s CAGR is 1.06 percentage points lower than that of DGRO and as a result, would have yielded $4,418 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, IWD performed worse than DGRO by 1.06% annually.


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