A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (RDVY) and Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | RDVY | IUS |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +1.08% | +4.90%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +1.15%✓ | +0.24% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.55%✓ | -0.76% |
| 1-Month Change | -1.71% | -2.31%✓ |
| Current Price | $79.19 | $67.97 |
| AUM | $25.20B✓ | $970M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.49% | 0.19%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 0.83% | 1.21%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | — |
| Inception Date | 2014-01-06 | 2018-09-12 |
| Holdings Count | 50 | 50 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Category | Large Value | Large Value |
| Beta | 0.91 | 0.80 |
| 52-Week High | $83.86 | $70.41 |
| 52-Week Low | $64.38 | $53.22 |
| 50-Day MA | $81.22 | $69.07 |
| 200-Day MA | $75.44 | $63.44 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | RDVY | IUS |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.08% | +4.90%✓ |
| 1 Year | +20.31% | +27.35%✓ |
| 3 Year | +21.45%✓ | +21.43% |
| 5 Year | +12.16% | +14.62%✓ |
| 10 Year | +15.50% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 13.38% | 10.56% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.04 | 1.33 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AMAT | Applied Materials Inc | 2.54% |
| 2 | LRCX | Lam Research Corp | 2.54% |
| 3 | KLAC | KLA Corporation | 2.33% |
| 4 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 2.28% |
| 5 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 2.24% |
| 6 | GEV | GE Vernova LLC | 2.24% |
| 7 | TRV | The Travelers Companies Inc | 2.22% |
| 8 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 2.21% |
| 9 | ROST | Ross Stores Inc | 2.17% |
| 10 | BK | The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation | 2.17% |
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 4.35% |
| 2 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 4.09% |
| 3 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 3.56% |
| 4 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 3.02% |
| 5 | BRK-B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc | 2.65% |
| 6 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 2.60% |
| 7 | XOM | Exxon Mobil Corp | 2.30% |
| 8 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 2.24% |
| 9 | CVX | Chevron Corp | 1.51% |
| 10 | UNH | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 1.29% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | RDVY | IUS |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.47% | 2.51% |
| Communication Services | 4.36% | 12.18% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 9.63% | 10.87% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.32% | 7.36% |
| Energy | 1.83% | 8.84% |
| Financial Services | 38.48% | 9.17% |
| Healthcare | 4.00% | 15.35% |
| Industrials | 12.39% | 8.59% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.56% |
| Technology | 26.52% | 23.56% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 1.02% |
About RDVY
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stock and depositary receipts that comprise the index. According to the index Provider, the index measures the performance of a selection of securities that have increased their dividend value over the previous three year and five-year annual periods. The index is comprised of four Sub-Portfolios.
About IUS
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the underlying index. The Adviser employs a full replication methodology in seeking to track the underlying index, meaning that the fund generally invests in all of the securities comprising the index in proportion to their weightings in the index. The index is designed to measure the performance of equity securities of U.S. companies that tend to have larger, higher quality businesses.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both RDVY and IUS are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, IUS scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between RDVY and IUS?
RDVY (First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF) and IUS (Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($25.20B vs $970M), dividend yield (0.83% vs 1.21%), and year-to-date performance (+1.08% vs +4.90%).
Is RDVY better than IUS?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy RDVY and IUS on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both RDVY and IUS should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
7 stocks to buy and hold forever
Complement your ETF portfolio with these proven long-term individual stocks.
Get the FREE Report