Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
SPY has outpaced YSPY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 8.78%. Measured from Feb 2025 — the start of shared available history — SPY has compounded at 18.38% a year versus 10.00% for YSPY. SPY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.0% against 17.8% for YSPY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Feb 2025” measures every fund from February 26, 2025 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the past year) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Distribution rate and SEC yield
Metric
SPY
YSPY
Forward distribution rate
0.99%
9.80%
Trailing 12-month yield
0.99%
41.85%
30-day SEC yield
—
0.34%
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Seeks current income with secondary exposure to the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares (SPXL) through a derivatives-based options strategy, generating weekly income by selling options on the leveraged ETF.
Bottom lineChoose SPY if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose YSPY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 9.80%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: YSPY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while SPY keeps full price exposure.
How the risk works
Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.
Daily leverage reset. YSPY targets a multiple of the index's DAILY move, resetting every session. Over weeks and months the compounding of daily resets (volatility decay) can drag returns far below the stated multiple, especially in choppy markets — and losses are magnified the same way gains are.
Capped upside and premium dependence. YSPY generates income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.
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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
GraniteShares is known for offering specialized ETF strategies that extend beyond traditional equity and bond investing, particularly through structured products and income-focused solutions. The firm manages 48 ETFs organized around distinct fund families including Autocallable products, Commodities, Income strategies, Leveraged exposures, and their YieldBOOST line designed to enhance distributions. GraniteShares targets investors seeking alternative income generation methods and commodity access, with popular tickers like AHD, CRY, and FBL representing their diverse approach to yield enhancement and alternative asset classes.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on YSPY.
SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) and YSPY (GraniteShares YieldBOOST SPY ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
YSPY offers the higher yield at 9.80% vs 0.99% 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 0.0945% compared to 1.15%.
They have different reference exposures: SPY is linked to S&P 500 Index while YSPY is linked to SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which means their performance drivers differ.
SPY is the larger fund by assets ($817B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose SPY
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.0945% expense ratio vs 1.15% for YSPY.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 1.0 vs 1.4 for YSPY.
Choose YSPY
GraniteShares YieldBOOST SPY ETF
Want to maximize current income — YSPY distributes roughly 9.80% from selling options premium, vs 0.99% for SPY.
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track SPY & YSPY for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, SPY would generate roughly $24.75 cash per distribution, while YSPY would produce $18.85 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
SPY yield0.99%
YSPY yield9.80%
Cash diff on $10K$5.90
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, SPY would cost approximately $95 in fees vs $1,150 for YSPY (simplified, not compounded). The $1,055.50 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
SPY ER0.0945%
YSPY ER1.15%
Strategy & risk
SPY tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while YSPY tracks SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) with an options approach. Beta is 1.0 for SPY and 1.3632 for YSPY, making SPY the less volatile of the two by this measure.
SPY beta1.0
YSPY beta1.3632
Fund details
SPY is managed by State Street (launched 01/22/1993) with $817B in assets. YSPY is managed by GraniteShares (launched 02/26/2025) with $8.32M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for SPY and YSPY?
SPY currently distributes 0.99% and YSPY 9.80%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is SPY or YSPY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. YSPY 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 SPY and YSPY?
SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while YSPY (GraniteShares YieldBOOST SPY ETF) tracks SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) with an options approach. They are issued by State Street and GraniteShares respectively.
Can I hold both SPY and YSPY?
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.
Is SPY or YSPY safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SPY scores 100, YSPY scores 79, so SPY's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. SPY has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.00 vs 1.36 for YSPY). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.
Which has lower fees, SPY or YSPY?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.0945% while YSPY charges 1.15%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in SPY vs YSPY generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in SPY would generate roughly $24.75 cash per distribution ($99.00 annually). The same in YSPY would produce about $18.85 cash per distribution ($980.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, SPY or YSPY?
SPY has outpaced YSPY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 8.78%. Measured from Feb 2025 — the start of shared available history — SPY has compounded at 18.38% a year versus 10.00% for YSPY. SPY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.0% against 17.8% for YSPY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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