RFDA vs XLF
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF vs State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, RFDA or XLF?
RFDA has been ahead.
XLF has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFDA is less concentrated, with 30.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | RFDA | XLF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $77M | $51.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.40% |
| Holdings | 77 | 160 |
| YTD Return | +14.73%Best | +0.47% |
| 1Y Return | +16.68%Best | +4.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.07%Best | +19.43% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.87%Best | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 20.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8%Best | -43.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,319Best | $15,260 |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.6%Best | 57.3% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2016 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.4 years).
RFDA vs XLF growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 10.4 years both funds cover.
RFDA vs XLF Performance
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF (RFDA) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year RFDA returned +16.68% while XLF returned +4.02%. Year to date, RFDA is up 14.73% versus a gain of 0.47% for XLF.
Over three years, RFDA compounded at +20.07% per year against +19.43% for XLF; over five years the annualized figures are +12.87% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, RFDA has the edge at +12.11% annualized vs +9.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 15.1% for RFDA. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -34.8% for RFDA and -43.3% for XLF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFDA charges 0.52% per year while XLF charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $8 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFDA currently yields 2.00% against 1.40% for XLF.
Holdings Overlap
15.7% of RFDA's money is in holdings XLF also owns. 26.6% of XLF's money is in holdings RFDA also owns.
XLF and RFDA share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 77 in XLF, against full books of 77 and 160.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 65 positions for XLF that do not appear in our book for RFDA (72.9% of the fund), and 61 for RFDA that do not appear in XLF (80.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RFDA | Weight in XLF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.96% | 11.82% | 8.86% |
| CCitigroup, Inc. | 2.58% | 2.93% | 0.35% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc. | 1.35% | 3.76% | 2.41% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.38% | 3.42% | 2.04% |
| USBUs Bank Na Cincinnati | 1.67% | 1.21% | 0.46% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 0.90% | 1.21% | 0.31% |
| IVZInvesco Advisers Inc | 1.42% | 0.18% | 1.24% |
| TRVTravelers Cos., Inc. | 0.56% | 0.99% | 0.43% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 1.39% | 0.13% | 1.26% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Group Inc | 0.98% | 0.28% | 0.70% |
26.6% of XLF is already inside RFDA.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RFDA or XLF?
RFDA has an expense ratio of 0.52% while XLF charges 0.08%. XLF is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFDA or XLF?
Over the past year RFDA returned +16.68% vs +4.02% for XLF, so RFDA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RFDA annualized +12.11% vs +9.46% for XLF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFDA or XLF?
XLF has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 15.1% for RFDA. Worst drawdown: RFDA -34.8% vs XLF -43.3%.
Should I hold both RFDA and XLF?
RFDA and XLF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RFDA and XLF?
26.6% of XLF's money is in holdings RFDA also owns. 26.6% of XLF's is in holdings RFDA also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 77 in XLF.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFDA or XLF?
RFDA yields 2.00% while XLF yields 1.40%, so RFDA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLF better than RFDA?
XLF has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RFDA is less concentrated, with 30.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.