DV
Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

SPYD vs VOO: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 5, 2026

Best for

  • SPYDInvestors who want higher current income (4.35% vs 1.11% for VOO).
  • VOOInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

ETFs180
Total AUM$2039B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks β€” 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 SPYD.

ETFs116
Total AUM$4508B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO.

Side-by-side snapshot

SPYDVOO
Full nameSPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETFVanguard S&P 500 ETF
IssuerState StreetVanguard
Last Close$49.88 as of August 5, 2026$707.60 as of August 5, 2026
Distribution yield4.35%1.11%
Distribution Safety Scoreβ„’ 87100
Expense ratio0.07%0.03%
AUM$8.75B$987B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 High Dividend IndexS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveTrack the S&P 500 High Dividend Index, holding the highest-yielding stocks within the S&P 500.Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/21/201509/07/2010
Beta0.641.0
Last dividend$0.5430$1.9622
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SPYD if you want higher current income (4.35% vs 1.11% for VOO). Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Income calculator

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

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years β€” no signup required.

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

SPYD has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.88% total return against 23.41%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.44% a year, against 8.90% for SPYD. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Oct 2015Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SPYD16.89%21.88%14.35%9.69%8.90%9.65%14.3%0.630.90-16.1%
VOO13.31%23.41%21.17%13.47%15.44%14.98%15.0%0.991.43-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. β€œSince Oct 2015” measures every fund from October 22, 2015 β€” the youngest fund's first trading day β€” so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. 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 trailing 3 years) β€” higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window β€” shallower is better.

Quick verdict

SPYD (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SPYD offers the higher yield at 4.35% vs 1.11% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.07%.

They track different benchmarks: SPYD is linked to S&P 500 High Dividend Index while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($987B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose SPYD

SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF

  • Want higher current income β€” SPYD yields 4.35% vs 1.11% for VOO.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt β€” screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Prefer lower volatility β€” a beta of 0.6 vs 1.0 for VOO.

Choose VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Want to keep costs low β€” a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.07% for SPYD.

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, SPYD would generate roughly $36.25/month, while VOO would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SPYD yield4.35%
VOO yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$27.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SPYD would cost approximately $70 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SPYD ER0.07%
VOO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SPYD tracks S&P 500 High Dividend Index with a dividend approach, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 0.64 for SPYD and 1.0 for VOO, indicating SPYD is less volatile relative to the market.

SPYD beta0.64
VOO beta1.0

Fund details

SPYD is managed by State Street (launched 10/21/2015) with $8.75B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $987B in assets.

SPYD AUM$8.75B
VOO AUM$987B

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor β€” if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SPYD and VOO?

SPYD currently distributes 4.35% and VOO 1.11%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SPYD or VOO better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SPYD 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 SPYD and VOO?

SPYD (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF) tracks S&P 500 High Dividend Index with a dividend approach, while VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by State Street and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SPYD and VOO?

Yes β€” 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, SPYD or VOO?

SPYD has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SPYD vs VOO generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SPYD would generate roughly $36.25 per month ($435.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SPYD or VOO?

SPYD has lagged VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.88% total return against 23.41%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VOO has compounded at 15.44% a year, against 8.90% for SPYD. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings β€” forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.