SPYD vs VYM: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, SPYD yields more: 4.11% (dividend yield) against 2.26% for VYM. VYM is cheaper to own at 0.04% a year vs 0.07%. Over the same 11 years (Oct 2015 to Oct 2026), VYM returned 11.7% a year with distributions reinvested, and SPYD 9.5%.
SPYDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF4.11%dividend yield
VYMVanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares2.26%dividend yield| Compared | SPYD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 4.11% | 2.26% |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.04% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +20.6% | +19.3% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +18.7% | +20.9% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +8.7% | +11.8% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +8.9% | +12.0% |
| Worst drop since Oct 2015 | -36.6% | -24.0% |
| Share price since Oct 2015 | +63% | +141% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard |
| Assets | $7.6B | $100.1B |
| Started | 2015 | 2006 |
| Type | Mid-Cap Value | Large Value |
Higher yield
SPYD
4.11%
Lower cost
VYM
0.04%
Better total return
VYM
11.7%/yr
Smaller worst drop
VYM
-24.0%
Key facts: SPYD vs VYM
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, SPYD yields 4.11% (dividend yield) and VYM yields 2.26% (dividend yield).
- SPYD's expense ratio is 0.07% and VYM's is 0.04%: $7 vs $4 a year on $10,000.
- From Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in SPYD grew to $27,105 (9.5% a year) and $10,000 in VYM to $33,657 (11.7% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -36.6% for SPYD and -24.0% for VYM.
- 1 of SPYD's top ten holdings are also in VYM's top ten, an overlap of at least 2% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "SPYD vs VYM: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/spyd-vs-vym
$10,000 in each, Oct 2015 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
SPYD became
$27,105
9.5% a year
VYM became
$33,657
11.7% a year
Year by year
| Year | SPYD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +4.6% | +15.4% |
| 2024 | +15.3% | +17.6% |
| 2023 | +3.9% | +6.6% |
| 2022 | −1.2% | −0.4% |
| 2021 | +32.7% | +26.2% |
| 2020 | −11.6% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | +21.2% | +24.0% |
| 2018 | −4.9% | −5.9% |
| 2017 | +12.7% | +16.4% |
| 2016 | +24.6% | +17.0% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
1 of the top ten overlap, at least 2% of each fund.
SPYD
- ACN Accenture PLC Class A2.4%
- HAS Hasbro Inc1.7%
- PFE Pfizer Inc1.6%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.6%
- MDT Medtronic PLC1.5%
- SWK Stanley Black & Decker Inc1.5%
- EOG EOG Resources Inc1.5%
- HPQ HP Inc1.5%
- CCI Crown Castle Inc1.5%
- AMT American Tower Corp1.4%
VYM
- AVGO Broadcom Inc6.9%
- JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co3.8%
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.8%
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson2.7%
- ABBV AbbVie Inc2.0%
- CSCO Cisco Systems Inc1.8%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.6%
- CAT Caterpillar Inc1.6%
- MRK Merck & Co Inc1.5%
- BAC Bank of America Corp1.5%
SPYD vs VYM: questions
Is SPYD or VYM better?
It depends on the job. SPYD pays more today (4.11% vs 2.26%), VYM costs less, and VYM has the better total return over Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, with VYM 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, SPYD or VYM?
SPYD, at 4.11% against 2.26% for VYM as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $411 vs $226 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
VYM. From Oct 2015 to Oct 2026, it returned 11.7% a year with distributions reinvested, against 9.5% for SPYD. $10,000 became $33,657 vs $27,105.
Which is cheaper, SPYD or VYM?
VYM, with a 0.04% expense ratio against 0.07%.
Do SPYD and VYM hold the same things?
Partly. 1 of their top ten holdings match (CVX), at least 2% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. VYM leads on 6 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.