TROW vs. SDY

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

TROW (T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.) is a stock, while SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) is Mid Cap Value Equities fund tracking the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. Over the past 10 years, TROW returned 8.74%/yr vs 9.35%/yr for SDY. A 0.72 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

TROW vs. SDY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TROW achieves a 19.25% return, which is significantly higher than SDY's 13.36% return. Over the past 10 years, TROW has underperformed SDY with an annualized return of 8.74%, while SDY has yielded a comparatively higher 9.35% annualized return.

TROW

• 1D: 0.24%
• 1M: 9.12%
• 6M: 13.76%
• YTD: 19.25%
• 1Y: 21.39%
• 3Y*: 5.25%
• 5Y*: -6.17%
• 10Y*: 8.74%

SDY

• 1D: 2.14%
• 1M: 2.58%
• 6M: 7.56%
• YTD: 13.36%
• 1Y: 15.99%
• 3Y*: 10.98%
• 5Y*: 7.81%
• 10Y*: 9.35%

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

TROW vs. SDY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
TROW T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.	19.25%	-4.67%	9.68%	3.35%	-42.24%	34.91%	28.11%	35.61%	-9.75%	43.38%
SDY SPDR S&P Dividend ETF	13.36%	8.18%	8.45%	2.61%	-0.54%	25.32%	1.71%	23.29%	-2.74%	15.82%

Correlation

The correlation between TROW and SDY is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.47
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.60
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.66
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.67
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2005	0.72

Over the past year, the correlation between TROW and SDY has dropped to 0.47 - well below their long-term average of 0.72, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

TROW vs. SDY — Risk / Return Rank

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

TROW

TROW Risk / Return Rank: 68
TROW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
TROW Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
TROW Omega Ratio Rank: 65
TROW Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
TROW Martin Ratio Rank: 69

SDY

SDY Risk / Return Rank: 52
SDY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
SDY Sortino Ratio Rank: 62
SDY Omega Ratio Rank: 51
SDY Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
SDY Martin Ratio Rank: 43

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.

TROW vs. SDY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	TROW	SDY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.88	1.51	-0.63
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.33	2.33	-1.00
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.17	1.26	-0.09
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.09	2.09	-1.01
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.67	5.61	-2.95

TROW vs. SDY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TROW Sharpe Ratio is 0.88, which is lower than the SDY Sharpe Ratio of 1.51. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TROW and SDY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

TROW vs. SDY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TROW drawdown since its inception was -67.43%, which is greater than SDY's maximum drawdown of -54.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TROW and SDY.

Drawdown Indicators

	TROW	SDY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-67.43%	-54.75%	-12.68%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.76%	-7.67%	-12.09%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-34.05%	-14.39%	-19.66%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-58.16%	-15.21%	-42.95%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-58.16%	-36.70%	-21.46%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-33.92%	0.00%	-33.92%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-16.73%	-6.18%	-10.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.04%	2.85%	+5.19%

Volatility

TROW vs. SDY - Volatility Comparison

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW) has a higher volatility of 8.66% compared to SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) at 4.10%. This indicates that TROW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SDY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TROW	SDY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.66%	4.10%	+4.56%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.90%	7.94%	+9.96%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.62%	10.64%	+13.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	30.57%	14.03%	+16.54%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.00%	17.07%	+12.93%

Dividends

TROW vs. SDY - Dividend Comparison

TROW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.32%, more than SDY's 2.39% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SDY SPDR S&P Dividend ETF	2.39%	2.61%	2.56%	2.64%	2.55%	2.63%	2.85%	2.45%	2.73%	4.69%	3.30%	6.20%
TROW T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.	4.32%	4.96%	4.39%	4.53%	4.40%	3.72%	2.38%	2.50%	3.03%	2.17%	2.87%	5.71%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TROW and SDY in my portfolio?

TROW and SDY have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TROW or SDY?

TROW has higher volatility (8.66%) compared to SDY (4.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TROW dropped -67.43% vs SDY's -54.75%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SDY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.51 vs 0.88), 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.