SmarterDividends

JEPI vs RYLD: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 9, 2026, RYLD yields more: 12.27% (dividend yield) against 7.47% for JEPI. JEPI is cheaper to own at 0.35% a year vs 0.60%. Over the same 6 years (May 2020 to Oct 2026), JEPI returned 10.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and RYLD 8.7%.

ComparedJEPIRYLD
YieldDividend yield7.47%12.27%
Expense ratio0.35%0.60%
Total return, 1 yr+9.6%+12.1%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+11.5%+11.0%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+7.4%+2.1%
Worst drop since May 2020-13.0%-18.7%
Share price since May 2020+12%−21%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerJPMorganGlobal X
Assets$46.2B$1.3B
Started20202019
TypeDerivative IncomeDerivative Income

Higher yield

RYLD

12.27%

Lower cost

JEPI

0.35%

Better total return

JEPI

10.8%/yr

Smaller worst drop

JEPI

-13.0%

Key facts: JEPI vs RYLD

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 9, 2026, JEPI yields 7.47% (dividend yield) and RYLD yields 12.27% (dividend yield).
  • JEPI's expense ratio is 0.35% and RYLD's is 0.60%: $35 vs $60 a year on $10,000.
  • From May 2020 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in JEPI grew to $19,360 (10.8% a year) and $10,000 in RYLD to $17,041 (8.7% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -13.0% for JEPI and -18.7% for RYLD.
  • 0 of JEPI's top ten holdings are also in RYLD's top ten.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "JEPI vs RYLD: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 9, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/jepi-vs-ryld

$10,000 in each, May 2020 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

JEPI became

$19,360

10.8% a year

RYLD became

$17,041

8.7% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearJEPIRYLD
2025+8.1%+5.6%
2024+12.6%+10.2%
2023+9.8%+0.3%
2022−3.5%−13.0%
2021+21.5%+22.2%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

JEPI

  1. MA Mastercard Inc Class A2.0%
  2. AAPL Apple Inc1.9%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp1.9%
  4. V Visa Inc Class A1.9%
  5. NEE NextEra Energy Inc1.8%
  6. JNJ Johnson & Johnson1.8%
  7. EOG EOG Resources Inc1.8%
  8. MMM 3M Co1.8%
  9. JIMXX JPMorgan Prime Money Market IM1.8%
  10. ABBV AbbVie Inc1.8%

RYLD

  1. RSSL Global X Russell 2000 ETF103.0%

JEPI vs RYLD: questions

Is JEPI or RYLD better?

It depends on the job. RYLD pays more today (12.27% vs 7.47%), JEPI costs less, and JEPI has the better total return over May 2020 to Oct 2026, with JEPI holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, JEPI or RYLD?

RYLD, at 12.27% against 7.47% for JEPI as of Nov 9, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,227 vs $747 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

JEPI. From May 2020 to Oct 2026, it returned 10.8% a year with distributions reinvested, against 8.7% for RYLD. $10,000 became $19,360 vs $17,041.

Which is cheaper, JEPI or RYLD?

JEPI, with a 0.35% expense ratio against 0.60%.

Do JEPI and RYLD hold the same things?

Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. JEPI leads on 5 of 7 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 9, 2026.