SPY ETF — SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)

Updated October 16, 2026.

SPY is a low-cost ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Index. its distribution rate is 0.99%, its trailing-12-month yield is 0.99%, its expense ratio is 0.0945%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 100/100 (Safe). Total return is 3072.7% over the past 33.7 years.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust tracks the S&P 500 Index, holding the 500 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization to replicate the index's performance before expenses. The fund offers a modest current distribution rate paid quarterly, with a low expense ratio of 0.09%. It appeals to broad-based equity investors seeking diversified large-cap U.S. stock exposure with minimal costs.

SPY performance

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 3072.7% over the past 33.7 years. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 16.8%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 8.9%.

SPY key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

100 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.99%

Issuer

State Street

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

01/22/1993

Expense ratio

0.0945%

Distribution rate

0.99%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

0.99%

Last close

$763.25 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$809,773,946,342

Market cap

$656,370,171,904

Average volume

63984592.0

Dividend

$1.88883

Ex-dividend date

09/18/2026

Payment date

10/30/2026

Beta

1.0

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.99%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (0.99%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: State Street or company page; Index: S&P 500 Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

SPY risks and drawbacks

SPY's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 8.9%.

Who may consider SPY — and who may not

SPY may suit someone looking for low-cost broad dividend exposure, a high Distribution Safety Score. It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (SPY pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on SPY

• SPY dividend calendar
• SPY dividend history
• All tickers starting with S

Tagged: S&P500, Index, Large Cap.

Compare SPY

SPY vs similar funds:

• SPY vs VOO
• SPY vs IVV
• SPY vs FXAIX
• SPY vs VTI
• SPY vs QQQ
• SPY vs SPYM

Frequently asked questions

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