SmarterDividends

QYLD vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 7, 2026, QYLD yields more: 12.52% (dividend yield) against 12.33% for SPYI. QYLD is cheaper to own at 0.60% a year vs 0.68%. Over the same 4 years (Aug 2022 to Oct 2026), SPYI returned 14.8% a year with distributions reinvested, and QYLD 14.2%.

ComparedQYLDSPYI
YieldDividend yield12.52%12.33%
Expense ratio0.60%0.68%
Total return, 1 yr+15.7%+11.9%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+15.8%+18.0%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+7.8%—
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+9.7%—
Worst drop since Aug 2022-9.1%-7.8%
Share price since Aug 2022+5%+7%
PaysMonthlyMonthly
IssuerGlobal XNeos
Assets$8.2B$12.5B
Started20132022
TypeDerivative IncomeDerivative Income

Higher yield

QYLD

12.52%

Lower cost

QYLD

0.60%

Better total return

SPYI

14.8%/yr

Smaller worst drop

SPYI

-7.8%

Key facts: QYLD vs SPYI

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 7, 2026, QYLD yields 12.52% (dividend yield) and SPYI yields 12.33% (dividend yield).
  • QYLD's expense ratio is 0.60% and SPYI's is 0.68%: $60 vs $68 a year on $10,000.
  • From Aug 2022 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in QYLD grew to $17,403 (14.2% a year) and $10,000 in SPYI to $17,743 (14.8% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -9.1% for QYLD and -7.8% for SPYI.
  • 7 of QYLD's top ten holdings are also in SPYI's top ten, an overlap of at least 31% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "QYLD vs SPYI: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 7, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/qyld-vs-spyi

$10,000 in each, Aug 2022 to Oct 2026

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

QYLD became

$17,403

14.2% a year

SPYI became

$17,743

14.8% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearQYLDSPYI
2025+9.3%+16.7%
2024+19.3%+19.0%
2023+22.7%+18.1%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

7 of the top ten overlap, at least 31% of each fund.

QYLD

  1. AAPL Apple Inc8.2%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp8.1%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp6.3%
  4. MU Micron Technology Inc4.5%
  5. AMZN Amazon.com Inc4.2%
  6. AMD Advanced Micro Devices Inc3.7%
  7. TSLA Tesla Inc3.4%
  8. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A3.0%
  9. WMT Walmart Inc2.7%
  10. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.7%

SPYI

  1. AAPL Apple Inc7.7%
  2. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.6%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.9%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.5%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.4%
  7. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.0%
  8. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.0%
  9. LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.7%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.7%

QYLD vs SPYI: questions

Is QYLD or SPYI better?

It depends on the job. QYLD pays more today (12.52% vs 12.33%), QYLD 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, QYLD or SPYI?

QYLD, at 12.52% against 12.33% for SPYI as of Nov 7, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $1,252 vs $1,233 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 14.2% for QYLD. $10,000 became $17,743 vs $17,403.

Which is cheaper, QYLD or SPYI?

QYLD, with a 0.60% expense ratio against 0.68%.

Do QYLD and SPYI hold the same things?

Partly. 7 of their top ten holdings match (AAPL, NVDA, MSFT, AMZN), at least 31% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

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