SPDR High Dividend Fund Yields 4.08%, Up 10.08% Year-to-Date
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF holds 80 equal-weighted S&P 500 stocks, yields 4.08% with 18.6% in financials, 17.4% healthcare and 14% technology. The fund’s price rose 19.51% over the past year and returned 10.08% year-to-date through early March 2026 with a 0.07% expense ratio.
1. Fund Strategy and Top Holdings
The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF uses a mechanical approach to hold the 80 highest-yielding names in the index on an equal-weight basis, capping each position at roughly 1.25% of assets. Its top holdings include Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Exxon Mobil, reflecting companies with decades of dividend-raising track records.
2. Performance Trends
Over the past 12 months the fund’s share price climbed 19.51%, while year-to-date through early March 2026 it has gained 10.08%. That performance outpaces many dividend-growth peers despite SPYD’s focus on current yield rather than dividend growth alone.
3. Sector Weightings and Risks
SPYD’s portfolio is genuinely diversified across sectors, with financials at 18.6%, healthcare at 17.4% and technology at 14%. The tilt toward consumer staples, utilities and real estate—for example 17.6% in staples—drives a higher yield but can amplify drawdowns when defensive sectors underperform.
4. Dividend History and Costs
The fund currently yields 4.08% and pays quarterly, with a Q4 2025 distribution of $0.549 and Q1 2025 of $0.419 per share. Its ultra-low 0.07% expense ratio makes it one of the cheapest high-yield ETF options for retirees seeking income without locking up capital in bonds.