Dow Jones ETF’s 13.5% Return Trails Growth ETF’s 19.3%, Outshines Small Caps
In the past year, DIA returned 13.50% with a 0.16% expense ratio and 1.43% dividend yield, versus VOOG’s 19.31% return and 0.07% fee. Over five years, DIA’s max drawdown was -20.76% vs IWM’s -31.91%, and $1,601 vs $1,341 growth on $1,000, highlighting its defensive profile.
1. DIA vs. VOOG: Balancing Stability and Cost
The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) offers investors exposure to 30 of the largest, most established U.S. companies, resulting in a concentrated portfolio tilted toward financial services (28%), technology (20%) and industrials (15%). With an expense ratio of 0.16% and assets under management of approximately $44 billion, DIA is priced at more than double the cost of the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG), which charges 0.07% on $22 billion in AUM. However, DIA’s 1.43% dividend yield outpaces VOOG’s 0.49%, making it attractive to income-oriented investors. Over the past year, DIA returned 13.5% with a beta of 0.89, while VOOG delivered 19.3% with a beta of 1.08. Over five years, $1,000 invested in DIA grew to $1,601 versus $1,965 in VOOG, but DIA’s maximum drawdown of –20.75% was notably shallower than VOOG’s –32.74%, underscoring its defensive characteristics.
2. DIA vs. IWM: Yield and Drawdown Advantages
Compared with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), which holds nearly 2,000 small-cap stocks, DIA’s 30-company lineup delivers a more stable risk profile. DIA’s expense ratio is 0.16% versus IWM’s 0.19%, and its dividend yield of 1.4% exceeds IWM’s 1.0%. With $44.6 billion in AUM, DIA is half the size of IWM’s $77.7 billion but offers lower volatility: its five-year beta is 0.91 against IWM’s 1.13. Over the last year, DIA returned 18.1% compared to IWM’s 20.0%, while over five years $1,000 in DIA grew to $1,749 versus $1,341 in IWM. Crucially, DIA’s maximum drawdown of –20.76% was significantly less severe than IWM’s –31.91%, highlighting DIA’s resilience in market downturns.