KNG vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, SPYI yields more: 12.20% (dividend yield) against 7.98% for KNG. SPYI is cheaper to own at 0.68% a year vs 0.74%. Over the same 4 years (Aug 2022 to Oct 2026), SPYI returned 14.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and KNG 8.6%.
SPYINeos S&P 500(R) High Income ETF12.20%dividend yield| Compared | KNG | SPYI |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 7.98% | 12.20% |
| Expense ratio | 0.74% | 0.68% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +16.4% | +11.9% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +12.2% | +18.0% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +6.1% | — |
| Worst drop since Aug 2022 | -10.2% | -7.8% |
| Share price since Aug 2022 | +2% | +7% |
| Pays | Monthly | Monthly |
| Issuer | First Trust | Neos |
| Assets | $3.4B | $12.5B |
| Started | 2018 | 2022 |
| Type | Derivative Income | Derivative Income |
Higher yield
SPYI
12.20%
Lower cost
SPYI
0.68%
Better total return
SPYI
14.8%/yr
Smaller worst drop
SPYI
-7.8%
Key facts: KNG vs SPYI
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, KNG yields 7.98% (dividend yield) and SPYI yields 12.20% (dividend yield).
- KNG's expense ratio is 0.74% and SPYI's is 0.68%: $74 vs $68 a year on $10,000.
- From Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in KNG grew to $14,080 (8.6% a year) and $10,000 in SPYI to $17,743 (14.8% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -10.2% for KNG and -7.8% for SPYI.
- 0 of KNG's top ten holdings are also in SPYI's top ten.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "KNG vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/kng-vs-spyi
$10,000 in each, Aug 2022 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
KNG became
$14,080
8.6% a year
SPYI became
$17,743
14.8% a year
Year by year
| Year | KNG | SPYI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +6.6% | +16.7% |
| 2024 | +6.0% | +19.0% |
| 2023 | +7.5% | +18.1% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
No overlap in the top ten.
KNG
- ROP Roper Technologies Inc1.9%
- FDS FactSet Research Systems Inc1.8%
- BDX Becton Dickinson & Co1.8%
- IBM International Business Machines Corp1.7%
- EMR Emerson Electric Co1.7%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.7%
- ERIE Erie Indemnity Co Class A1.6%
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp1.6%
- MDT Medtronic PLC1.6%
- ADP Automatic Data Processing Inc1.6%
SPYI
- AAPL Apple Inc7.7%
- NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.6%
- MSFT Microsoft Corp5.9%
- AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
- GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.5%
- AVGO Broadcom Inc2.4%
- META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.0%
- GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.0%
- LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.7%
- TSLA Tesla Inc1.7%
KNG vs SPYI: questions
Is KNG or SPYI better?
It depends on the job. SPYI pays more today (12.20% vs 7.98%), SPYI costs less, and SPYI has the better total return over Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, with SPYI 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, KNG or SPYI?
SPYI, at 12.20% against 7.98% for KNG as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,220 vs $798 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
SPYI. From Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, it returned 14.8% a year with distributions reinvested, against 8.6% for KNG. $10,000 became $17,743 vs $14,080.
Which is cheaper, KNG or SPYI?
SPYI, with a 0.68% expense ratio against 0.74%.
Do KNG and SPYI hold the same things?
Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. SPYI leads on 5 of 6 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.