Dow Jones ETF’s 1.43% Yield and 13.5% Gain Trails Vanguard Growth’s 19.3%
DIA’s 0.16% expense ratio and 1.43% dividend yield compare with Vanguard Growth’s 0.07% fee and 0.49% yield, while DIA delivered a 13.5% one-year return versus Vanguard Growth’s 19.3%. Over five years, DIA’s max drawdown was –20.8% with $1,000 growing to $1,601, reflecting its lower volatility and blue-chip tilt.
1. DIA’s Yield and Cost Profile Compared to S&P 500 Growth ETF
The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) charges an expense ratio of 0.16%, more than double the 0.07% fee of the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, yet it offers a markedly higher dividend yield of 1.43% versus 0.49%. With $44 billion in assets under management and a five-year beta of 0.89, DIA’s concentrated portfolio of 30 blue-chip stocks provides income-focused investors with a stable payout and lower volatility. Over the trailing 12 months to January 19, 2026, DIA delivered a total return of 13.50%, underperforming the growth-oriented ETF but benefiting from steadier drawdowns (-20.75% vs. -32.74% max decline) and less exposure to high-beta technology names that dominate growth benchmarks.
2. How DIA Stacks Up Against the Russell 2000 ETF
DIA’s 30-stock lineup contrasts sharply with the 1,954 constituents of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF, resulting in a more focused sector tilt toward financials (28%), technology (20%), and industrials (15%). Despite its narrower scope, DIA has outpaced the small-cap index ETF on key defensive metrics: a lower five-year max drawdown of -20.76% versus -31.91%, stronger growth of $1,000 to $1,601 over five years (compared to $1,341), and a higher dividend yield of 1.43% against 1.00%. Its expense ratio of 0.16% also undercuts the Russell 2000 ETF’s 0.19%, making DIA a cost-effective choice for investors seeking blue-chip stability with income generation.