If you want maximum headline income
→ SDY
SDY leads headline yield (~6.9%). Check the tape for total return and NAV path before sizing up.
Two income funds compared side-by-side using the available DivAgent snapshot. See which one fits your yield strategy.
8-second verdict · always free
If you want maximum headline income
→ SDY
SDY leads headline yield (~6.9%). Check the tape for total return and NAV path before sizing up.
If you want total return (paid + price)
→ NOBL
NOBL leads 1Y total return (~21.7%). Prefer this when you care about paid + price, not yield alone.
If you need sleep-at-night sizing
→ Either, sized right
Matched risk tiers (Tier 2). Differentiate on yield sustainability and total return, not safety rating.
Neither fund currently meets this page's high-yield and NAV-decline screen. That result does not establish distribution sustainability or composition; those require separate issuer evidence.
When the edge flips — yield, total return, or NAV path — we email the updated tape. Plus the free Yield Trap cheat sheet: what high-yield funds actually paid vs what their prices did.
Path A · Still deciding
Related battlesMore NOBL and SDY matchups in the same decision space — different trade-offs.
Path B · Picked a side
Full ticker auditsDeep-dive NOBL or SDY: distribution history, risk tier, peer set.
Audit SDY →Path C · Want a system
Leaderboard & portfoliosSee how income funds rank by risk tier and matrix cell — then track holdings free.
What this means: Both NOBL and SDY fall intoTier 2: Yield Plus. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | NOBL | SDY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 21.72% | 20.68% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 16.09% | 13.81% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.24% | -17.53% |
| Beta | N/A | N/A |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
NOBL (ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats) is listed with ProShares as provider. Reported assets under management: $11.3B.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 2, 5.62% annualized yield, 16.09% 1Y NAV change, and 21.72% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend) is listed with SPDR as provider. Reported assets under management: $22.0B.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 2, 6.87% annualized yield, 13.81% 1Y NAV change, and 20.68% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
In the head-to-head battle of NOBL vs SDY, the choice depends on your specific goal. SDY leads Immediate Income with a 6.87% yield. NOBL leads 1Y Total Return in the current data.
Compare the reported annualized yield, payout frequency, and DivAgent risk tier.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
NOBL
Annual Yield: 5.62%
$468/mo
($5,622/year)
Frequency: quarterly
SDY
Annual Yield: 6.87%
$572/mo
($6,869/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: SDY generates $1,248/year more than NOBL on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $24,955 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Compare annualized yield with NAV change and total return rather than using the yield figure alone.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. NOBL has the higher current 1Y total return at 21.72%.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.