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ETF Comparison

JEPI vs SPY: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 15, 2026

ETFs74
Total AUM$282B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

JPMorgan operates a diverse ETF lineup of 46 funds spanning bond, equity, factor, income, index, international, money market, municipal, and sector strategies, establishing itself as a broad-based player across multiple asset classes and investment approaches. The issuer is particularly known for its income-focused offerings, including popular tickers like JEPI (Equity Premium Income) and JEPQ (Equity Premium Income ETF), which employ covered call and options strategies to generate distributions. JPMorgan's portfolio ranges from core index and fixed income funds to specialized sector and international equity ETFs, positioning the firm to serve both income-seeking and growth-oriented investors across diversified markets.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on JEPI.

ETFs182
Total AUM$2117B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPY.

Side-by-side snapshot

JEPISPY
Full nameJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETFSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
IssuerJPMorganState Street
Last Close$56.58 as of July 15, 2026$751.83 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield8.21%1.01%
Distribution Safety Score 72100
Expense ratio0.35%0.10%
AUM$44.3B$783B
Distribution frequencyMonthlyQuarterly
Underlying indexSPXS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveCovered CallTrack the S&P 500 Index before expenses.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/20/202001/22/1993
Beta0.431.0
Last dividend$0.3872$1.9035
Ex-dividend date07/01/202609/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose JEPI if you want to maximize current income — roughly 8.21%, generated by selling options premium. Choose SPY if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. There's no free lunch: JEPI's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while SPY keeps full price exposure.

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Quick verdict

JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF) and SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

JEPI offers the higher yield at 8.21% vs 1.01% for SPY. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SPY is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.10% compared to 0.35%.

They track different benchmarks: JEPI is linked to SPX while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SPY is the larger fund by assets ($783B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose JEPI

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

  • Want to maximize current income — JEPI distributes roughly 8.21% from selling options premium, vs 1.01% for SPY.
  • Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.4 vs 1.0 for SPY.

Choose SPY

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.10% expense ratio vs 0.35% for JEPI.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, JEPI would generate roughly $68.42/month, while SPY would produce $8.42/month, at current distribution rates.

JEPI yield8.21%
SPY yield1.01%
Monthly diff on $10K$60.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, JEPI would cost approximately $350 in fees vs $100 for SPY (simplified, not compounded). The $250.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

JEPI ER0.35%
SPY ER0.10%

Strategy & risk

JEPI tracks SPX with a covered call approach, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 0.43 for JEPI and 1.0 for SPY, indicating JEPI is less volatile relative to the market.

JEPI beta0.43
SPY beta1.0

Fund details

JEPI is managed by JPMorgan (launched 05/20/2020) with $44.3B in assets. SPY is managed by State Street (launched 01/22/1993) with $783B in assets.

JEPI AUM$44.3B
SPY AUM$783B

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Frequently asked questions

Is JEPI or SPY better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. JEPI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between JEPI and SPY?

JEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF) tracks SPX with a covered call approach, while SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by JPMorgan and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both JEPI and SPY?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, JEPI or SPY?

JEPI has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.10%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in JEPI vs SPY generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in JEPI would generate roughly $68.42 per month ($821.00 annually). The same in SPY would produce about $8.42 per month ($101.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

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