A side-by-side comparison of First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) and VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF (VFLO) 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 | SDVY | VFLO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +1.48% | +20.08%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | +1.53%✓ | -0.04% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.40%✓ | -1.53% |
| 1-Month Change | +4.73%✓ | +5.76% |
| Current Price | $42.50 | $54.14 |
| AUM | $11.10B | $12.24B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.59% | 0.39%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03%✓ | 0.98% |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | — |
| Inception Date | 2017-11-01 | 2023-06-21 |
| Holdings Count | 172 | 50 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Small & Mid Cap Equity | US Small & Mid Cap Equity |
| Beta | 0.99 | 0.88 |
| 52-Week High | $45.00 | $56.23 |
| 52-Week Low | $36.03 | $36.29 |
| 50-Day MA | $42.17 | $53.71 |
| 200-Day MA | $41.91 | $46.14 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | SDVY | VFLO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.48% | +20.08%✓ |
| 1 Year | +12.52% | +43.47%✓ |
| 3 Year | +17.70% | +30.32%✓ |
| 5 Year | +9.31% | — |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.66% | 20.03% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.56 | 1.22 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | RGA | Reinsurance Group of America | 1.02% |
| 2 | NHC | National HealthCare Corporation | 1.07% |
| 3 | WSM | Williams-Sonoma Inc | 1.09% |
| 4 | THG | The Hanover Insurance Group Inc | 1.05% |
| 5 | IPAR | Inter Parfums Inc | 0.99% |
| 6 | FBP | First BanCorp. | 1.00% |
| 7 | AIZ | Assurant, Inc. | 1.03% |
| 8 | VRSN | VeriSign Inc | 1.03% |
| 9 | OFG | OFG Bancorp | 0.96% |
| 10 | WTS | Watts Water Technologies Inc | 0.94% |
| 1 | ACN | Accenture plc | 5.06% |
| 2 | MPC | Marathon Petroleum Corp | 3.80% |
| 3 | XOM | Exxon Mobil Corp | 3.79% |
| 4 | ADBE | Adobe Inc. | 3.62% |
| 5 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 3.56% |
| 6 | CNC | Centene Corp | 3.40% |
| 7 | INTU | Intuit Inc | 3.23% |
| 8 | CI | Cigna Corp | 2.65% |
| 9 | EOG | EOG Resources Inc | 2.74% |
| 10 | PSX | Phillips 66 | 2.67% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | SDVY | VFLO |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 4.09% | 4.79% |
| Communication Services | 3.18% | 5.43% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 9.55% | 6.84% |
| Consumer Defensive | 5.11% | 0.94% |
| Energy | 3.30% | 24.89% |
| Financial Services | 36.15% | 0.01% |
| Healthcare | 3.49% | 16.82% |
| Industrials | 25.67% | 2.38% |
| Real Estate | 0.24% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 10.58% | 33.70% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 2.47% |
About SDVY
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in common stocks that comprise the index. The index is designed to measure the performance of a selection of securities that have increased their dividend value over the previous three year and five year annual periods.
About VFLO
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in securities in the index. The index provider constructs the index in accordance with a rules-based methodology that selects 50 companies from the S-Network U.S. Equity Large/Mid-Cap 1000 Index. The fund generally seeks to track the returns of the index before fees and expenses by employing a replication strategy that seeks to hold all the stocks in the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both SDVY and VFLO 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, VFLO 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 SDVY and VFLO?
SDVY (First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF) and VFLO (VictoryShares Free Cash Flow ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($11.10B vs $12.24B), dividend yield (1.03% vs 0.98%), and year-to-date performance (+1.48% vs +20.08%).
Is SDVY better than VFLO?
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 SDVY and VFLO on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both SDVY and VFLO should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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