SDY vs SPYI: ETF Comparison
Compare SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) and SPYI (NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF) side by side by average annual total return since inception — one fair number covering price and dividends.
Updated Aug 4, 2026
*For entertainment purposes ONLY! NOT financial advice! Data may be inaccurate.*
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SDY vs SPYI: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, SPYI holds a clear edge over SDY: +14.6% per year vs +9.0% per year — a gap of 5.6 percentage points annually. Total return counts both price movement and dividends, so this is the whole picture of each fund's performance, not just yield.
Keep the track records in mind: SDY has been trading for 20.7 years, while SPYI has only 3.9 years of history. A shorter track record means the younger fund's average has been shaped by fewer market environments — one strong or weak stretch moves the needle more.
Income investors will notice the yield gap: SPYI currently yields 11.94% vs SDY's 2.6%. Higher yield often comes with trade-offs in price appreciation, which is exactly why total return is the fairer scoreboard.
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SDY vs SPYI Side-by-Side Data
| Symbol | Name | Provider | Inception | Age | Total Return | Avg. Annual Return | Yield | Expense Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDY | SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | State Street | 11/8/2005 | 20.7y | +497.0% | +9.0% | 2.6% | 0.35% | A |
| SPYI | NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF | NEOS | 8/30/2022 | 3.9y | +71.0% | +14.6% | 11.94% | 0.68% | B |
SDY vs SPYI — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SDY or SPYI?
By average annual total return since inception, SPYI holds a clear edge over SDY (+14.6% vs +9.0% per year). "Better" depends on your goals — yield, payout frequency, and strategy differ between the two funds.
What is the difference between SDY and SPYI?
SDY (SPDR S&P Dividend ETF) is offered by State Street and currently yields 2.6%. SPYI (NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF) is offered by NEOS and yields 11.94%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +9.0% and +14.6% respectively.
Does SPYI pay a higher dividend than SDY?
SPYI currently yields 11.94% and SDY yields 2.6%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.