VS
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (CA) (SDVY.F) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY) offer distinct profiles for Canadian ETF investors. A direct comparison shows that SDVY.F focuses its top 3 sector exposures on Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary, while VDY leans towards Financials, Energy, and Utilities. When evaluating costs, SDVY.F features a management fee (MER) of 0.15%, compared to 0.2% for VDY. Performance-wise, SDVY.F has returned 7.25% year-to-date with +$1 M in net flows, whereas VDY is at 21.57% with +$1 B. Use the comparison tool below to benchmark these funds across top 10 holdings, yield, sector weights and historical returns.
NAV Performance and Flows
Key Data
Compare
SDVY.F
VDY
| AuM | $5.30 M | $8,216.31 M |
| Management Fees | 0.15% | 0.20% |
| Exp. ratio | 0.77% | 0.22% |
| Tracking Difference | - | -0.03% |
Historical performance and flows
As of June 8, 2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | SDVY.F | -0.75% | +2.05% | +7.25% | +17.10% | - |
VDY | +5.28% | +14.00% | +21.57% | +50.17% | +110.42% | |
| Flows | SDVY.F | -$0 M | +$0 M | +$1 M | +$0 M | - |
VDY | +$310 M | +$782 M | +$1,402 M | +$2,311 M | +$3,382 M |
SDVY.F vs VDY exposure
Countries
SDVY.F
USA
90.45%
Other
9.55%
VDY
Canada
99.63%
Sectors
SDVY.F
Financials
32.18%
Industrials
27.88%
Consumer Discretionary
9.68%
Information Technology
7.84%
Other
22.42%
VDY
Financials
54.77%
Energy
29.54%
Other
15.68%
As of June 8, 2026
Top 10 Holdings
SDVY.F
COMFORT SYSTEMS USA
1.76%
ENERSYS
1.41%
POWELL INDUSTRIES
1.40%
WEATHERFORD INTL PLC
1.33%
CLEAR SECURE
1.24%
PRIMORIS SERVICES
1.22%
EMCOR GROUP
1.15%
MUELLER INDUSTRIES
1.10%
WOODWARD
1.05%
NORTHERN TRUST
1.05%
VDY
ROYAL BK CANADA
14.42%
TORONTO DOMINION
10.36%
ENBRIDGE
6.92%
BANK OF MONTREAL
6.18%
CDN IMPERIAL BK
6.00%
CDN NATURAL RESOURCE
5.58%
BNS
5.56%
SUNCOR ENERGY
4.72%
TC ENERGY CORP
3.99%
MANULIFE-S
3.78%
Diversification
SDVY.F
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 160 total
12.71%
VDY
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 61 total
67.51%
Characteristics
Compare
SDVY.F
VDY
| Provider | First Trust | Vanguard |
| Management | Passively managed | Passively managed |
| Benchmark | Nasdaq US SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers Total Return Index - USD | FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Net Tax Index - CAD |
| Replication Method | Direct (Physical) | Direct (Physical) |
| Asset Class | Equity | Equity |
| Dividend Policy | Distributing | Distributing |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | 0.94% | 3.09% |
| Meets ESG criteria | No | No |
| Inception Date | September 9, 2024 | November 2, 2012 |
Frequently asked questions about SDVY.F and VDY
Which ETF has performed better year to date: SDVY.F or VDY?
As of June 8, 2026, SDVY.F has returned 7.25% year to date, while VDY has returned 21.57%. VDY is ahead on YTD performance.
Which ETF is larger by assets under management: SDVY.F or VDY?
As of June 8, 2026, SDVY.F manages $5.30 M in assets, while VDY manages $8.22 B. VDY is the larger fund by AUM.
How are SDVY.F and VDY managed?
SDVY.F is passively managed by First Trust. It tracks the Nasdaq US SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers Total Return Index - USD benchmark. VDY is passively managed by Vanguard. It tracks the FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Net Tax Index - CAD benchmark.
What sectors do SDVY.F and VDY emphasize?
SDVY.F is most exposed to Financials, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary. VDY is most exposed to Financials, Energy, and Utilities.
Which ETF is attracting more investor flows: SDVY.F or VDY?
Year to date, SDVY.F has seen +$0.71 M in net flows, compared with +$1,401.95 M for VDY. VDY has attracted more net investor money so far.
How do the fees of SDVY.F and VDY compare?
SDVY.F has an expense ratio of 0.77%, while VDY has an expense ratio of 0.22%.
What are the top holdings of SDVY.F and VDY?
SDVY.F's largest holdings include COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, ENERSYS, and POWELL INDUSTRIES. VDY's top holdings include ROYAL BK CANADA, TORONTO DOMINION, and ENBRIDGE.
Which ETF is more diversified: SDVY.F or VDY?
SDVY.F holds 159 securities, while VDY holds 58. On holdings count, SDVY.F is the more diversified portfolio.
Recent articles about SDVY.F and VDY
ETF Comparison: VDY vs XEI
Sector exposure, diversification, and tracking efficiency separate these two dividend ETF heavyweights.
Posted on 6/1/2026 by Kyle Anthony inDividends
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