SLYG vs. IHDG

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

SLYG (SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF) and IHDG (WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SLYG is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index, while IHDG is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SLYG returned 10.79%/yr vs 10.27%/yr for IHDG. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SLYG charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for IHDG.

Performance

SLYG vs. IHDG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) and WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund (IHDG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SLYG achieves a 15.41% return, which is significantly higher than IHDG's 4.98% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with SLYG having a 10.79% annualized return and IHDG not far behind at 10.27%.

SLYG

• 1D: 0.56%
• 1M: -0.71%
• YTD: 15.41%
• 6M: 14.20%
• 1Y: 24.79%
• 3Y*: 13.80%
• 5Y*: 5.24%
• 10Y*: 10.79%

IHDG

• 1D: 0.41%
• 1M: 1.23%
• YTD: 4.98%
• 6M: 6.90%
• 1Y: 14.03%
• 3Y*: 10.60%
• 5Y*: 7.57%
• 10Y*: 10.27%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SLYG vs. IHDG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SLYG SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF	15.41%	5.20%	9.38%	17.27%	-21.26%	22.42%	19.48%	20.97%	-4.20%	14.62%
IHDG WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund	4.98%	14.17%	5.97%	20.00%	-11.53%	19.75%	10.51%	33.42%	-12.03%	21.93%

Correlation

The correlation between SLYG and IHDG is 0.69, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.69
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.66
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.69
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.67
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 7, 2014	0.66

The correlation between SLYG and IHDG has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

SLYG vs. IHDG - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SLYG	IHDG
Technology	20.5%	7.8%
Industrials	19.2%	19.7%
Healthcare	14.3%	9.4%
Financial Services	13.6%	15.2%
Consumer Cyclical	10.7%	19.3%
Real Estate	6.2%	0.3%
Energy	4.9%	3.7%
Communication Services	3.0%	4.5%
Consumer Defensive	2.9%	4.3%
Basic Materials	2.7%	5.4%
Utilities	1.9%	0.8%

Return for Risk

SLYG vs. IHDG — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SLYG

SLYG Risk / Return Rank: 51
SLYG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
SLYG Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
SLYG Omega Ratio Rank: 43
SLYG Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
SLYG Martin Ratio Rank: 59

IHDG

IHDG Risk / Return Rank: 32
IHDG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
IHDG Sortino Ratio Rank: 31
IHDG Omega Ratio Rank: 31
IHDG Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
IHDG Martin Ratio Rank: 35

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SLYG vs. IHDG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) and WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund (IHDG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	SLYG	IHDG	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.41	1.03	+0.38
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.11	1.53	+0.58
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.19	+0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.74	1.34	+1.39
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.55	4.95	+4.60
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SLYG vs. IHDG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SLYG Sharpe Ratio is 1.41, which is higher than the IHDG Sharpe Ratio of 1.03. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SLYG and IHDG, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SLYG	IHDG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.41	1.03	+0.38
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.24	0.51	-0.27
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.48	0.65	-0.18
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.31	0.59	-0.28

Drawdowns

SLYG vs. IHDG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SLYG drawdown since its inception was -62.15%, which is greater than IHDG's maximum drawdown of -29.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SLYG and IHDG.

Drawdown Indicators

	SLYG	IHDG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-62.15%	-29.24%	-32.91%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.10%	-10.49%	+1.39%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-27.39%	-18.88%	-8.51%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.18%	-19.52%	-9.66%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-41.86%	-29.24%	-12.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.49%	-1.69%	+0.20%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-14.54%	-4.04%	-10.50%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.60%	2.84%	-0.24%

Volatility

SLYG vs. IHDG - Volatility Comparison

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) has a higher volatility of 4.76% compared to WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund (IHDG) at 3.83%. This indicates that SLYG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IHDG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SLYG	IHDG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.76%	3.83%	+0.93%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.60%	11.35%	+1.25%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.68%	13.71%	+3.97%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.53%	14.85%	+6.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.75%	15.78%	+6.97%

SLYG vs. IHDG - Expense Ratio Comparison

SLYG has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than IHDG's 0.58% expense ratio.

Dividends

SLYG vs. IHDG - Dividend Comparison

SLYG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.71%, less than IHDG's 1.83% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IHDG WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Fund	1.83%	1.84%	2.42%	1.70%	13.79%	2.77%	1.94%	1.99%	0.22%	1.28%	1.91%	3.04%
SLYG SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF	0.71%	0.86%	1.22%	1.18%	1.18%	0.68%	0.71%	1.08%	1.06%	4.74%	1.13%	5.75%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SLYG and IHDG in my portfolio?

SLYG and IHDG have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SLYG or IHDG?

SLYG has higher volatility (4.76%) compared to IHDG (3.83%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SLYG dropped -62.15% vs IHDG's -29.24%.

Which ETF is better, SLYG or IHDG?

On 10-year performance, SLYG leads with 10.79% vs 10.27% for IHDG. On fees, SLYG is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IHDG has been the lower-risk option at 3.83%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SLYG or IHDG?

Over the 10-year period, SLYG has performed better with a 10.79% return vs 10.27%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SLYG or IHDG?

SLYG is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.58% for IHDG.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SLYG or IHDG?

IHDG has the higher dividend yield at 1.83%, compared with 0.71% for SLYG.

What is the main difference between SLYG and IHDG?

SLYG is categorized as Small Cap Growth Equities, while IHDG is Foreign Large Cap Equities. SLYG tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index, while IHDG tracks WisdomTree International Hedged Dividend Growth Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and WisdomTree. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for SLYG and 0.58% for IHDG.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SLYG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.41 vs 1.03), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.