A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares (VTWO) and First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) 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 | VTWO | SDVY |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -3.19% | +2.50%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.67% | +0.12%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +0.30% | +0.82%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +0.95%✓ | +3.95% |
| Current Price | $113.34 | $42.93 |
| AUM | $16.75B✓ | $11.33B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.1%✓ | 0.59% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26%✓ | 1.00% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2010-09-20 | 2017-11-01 |
| Holdings Count | 1970 | 172 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Small & Mid Cap Equity | US Small & Mid Cap Equity |
| Beta | 1.26 | 1.00 |
| 52-Week High | $122.96 | $45.00 |
| 52-Week Low | $91.39 | $36.03 |
| 50-Day MA | $114.02 | $41.96 |
| 200-Day MA | $112.76 | $41.99 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | VTWO | SDVY |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -3.19% | +2.50%✓ |
| 1 Year | +16.19%✓ | +13.81% |
| 3 Year | +20.40%✓ | +17.31% |
| 5 Year | +4.75% | +8.90%✓ |
| 10 Year | +9.76%✓ | +0.00% |
| 1Y Volatility | 17.36% | 15.50% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.82 | 0.78 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | TWST | Twist Bioscience Corp | 0.43% |
| 2 | MOG-A | Moog Inc | 0.36% |
| 3 | FROG | Jfrog Ltd | 0.34% |
| 4 | TXG | 10X Genomics Inc | 0.34% |
| 5 | UMBF | UMB Financial Corporation | 0.31% |
| 6 | BTSG | BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock | 0.30% |
| 7 | GKOS | Glaukos Corp | 0.31% |
| 8 | VSAT | ViaSat Inc | 0.30% |
| 9 | CYTK | Cytokinetics Inc | 0.30% |
| 10 | HUT | Hut 8 Corp. Common Stock | 0.30% |
| 1 | IPAR | Interparfums, Inc. | 1.23% |
| 2 | THG | The Hanover Insurance Group Inc | 1.04% |
| 3 | AIZ | Assurant, Inc. | 1.07% |
| 4 | WSM | Williams-Sonoma Inc | 1.06% |
| 5 | VLTO | Veralto Corporation | 1.07% |
| 6 | YOU | Clear Secure Inc | 1.09% |
| 7 | RGA | Reinsurance Group of America | 1.02% |
| 8 | NHC | National HealthCare Corporation | 1.04% |
| 9 | VRSN | VeriSign Inc | 1.00% |
| 10 | OFG | OFG Bancorp | 0.96% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | VTWO | SDVY |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 4.43% | 4.61% |
| Communication Services | 2.35% | 3.12% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.89% | 9.18% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.56% | 4.97% |
| Energy | 6.38% | 2.93% |
| Financial Services | 18.67% | 34.04% |
| Healthcare | 20.25% | 3.34% |
| Industrials | 12.72% | 26.14% |
| Real Estate | 6.43% | 0.26% |
| Technology | 14.58% | 9.53% |
| Utilities | 2.70% | 0.00% |
About VTWO
The fund advisor employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. The index is designed to measure the performance of small-capitalization stocks in the United States. The advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.
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.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both VTWO and SDVY 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, VTWO 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 VTWO and SDVY?
VTWO (Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares) and SDVY (First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($16.75B vs $11.33B), dividend yield (1.26% vs 1.00%), and year-to-date performance (-3.19% vs +2.50%).
Is VTWO better than SDVY?
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 VTWO and SDVY on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both VTWO and SDVY should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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