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 SPYM.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — 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 VT.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
SPYM has lagged VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.41% total return against 25.17%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPYM has compounded at 15.45% a year, ahead of VT at 12.65%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
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. “Since Jun 2008” measures every fund from June 26, 2008 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) and VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VT offers the higher yield at 1.41% vs 1.06% for SPYM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SPYM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.02% compared to 0.07%.
They track different benchmarks: SPYM is linked to S&P 500 Index while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SPYM is the larger fund by assets ($157B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Still deciding? Track SPYM & VT 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, SPYM would generate roughly $8.83/month, while VT would produce $11.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
SPYM yield1.06%
VT yield1.41%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, SPYM would cost approximately $20 in fees vs $70 for VT (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
SPYM ER0.02%
VT ER0.07%
Strategy & risk
SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach. Beta is 1.0 for SPYM and 0.98 for VT, indicating VT is less volatile relative to the market.
SPYM beta1.0
VT beta0.98
Fund details
SPYM is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $157B in assets. VT is managed by Vanguard (launched 06/24/2008) with $78.3B in assets.
Do us a favor — 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 SPYM and VT?
SPYM currently distributes 1.06% and VT 1.41%, 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 SPYM or VT better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VT 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 SPYM and VT?
SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach. They are issued by State Street and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both SPYM and VT?
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, SPYM or VT?
SPYM has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VT charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in SPYM vs VT generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in SPYM would generate roughly $8.83 per month ($106.00 annually). The same in VT would produce about $11.75 per month ($141.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, SPYM or VT?
SPYM has lagged VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.41% total return against 25.17%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPYM has compounded at 15.45% a year, ahead of VT at 12.65%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — 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.
