SPYI vs QYLD: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared

NEOS S&P 500 High IncomeNasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF

Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day

Higher yieldSPYI11.82% vs 11.50%
Better 1-year total returnQYLD+24.05% vs +16.64%
Lower expense ratioQYLD0.61% vs 0.68%

SPYI vs QYLD at a glance

NEOS S&P 500 High Income (SPYI) and Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) are compared below using data through the September 25, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.

Over the past year, QYLD returned +24.05% with dividends reinvested, compared with +16.64% for SPYI. SPYI currently yields 11.82% (trailing 12-month) against 11.50% for QYLD.

The higher-yielding fund (SPYI) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.

Key figures for SPYI and QYLD
MetricSPYIQYLD
Last close$53.65$18.55
Dividend yield11.82% (TTM)11.50% (TTM)
Expense ratio0.68%0.61%
Paysmonthlymonthly
Dividends, last 12 months$6.34 (12 payments)$2.13 (12 payments)
IssuerNEOS InvestmentsGlobal X
InceptionAug 31, 2022Dec 12, 2013

Performance: SPYI vs QYLD

Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.

SPYIQYLD

Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026

DividendDuel.com

Overview

Key fund stats as of the latest close.

ETFTTM yield1Y total returnLast closeLast dividendPaysIssuer
SPYINEOS S&P 500 High Income
11.82%
+16.64%$53.65$0.534MonthlyNEOS Investments
QYLDNasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF
11.50%
+24.05%Best$18.55$0.177MonthlyGlobal X

Total returns

Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.

ETF1M3M6M1Y2Y5Y
SPYINEOS S&P 500 High Income+1.24%+5.97%+14.38%+16.64%+33.87%—
QYLDNasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF+3.29%+6.09%+14.43%+24.05%+32.15%+51.18%

Dividends

Latest payout, trailing 12-month total and the last 12 distributions.

ETFLatest payoutvs. priorTrailing 12MRecent payouts
SPYINEOS S&P 500 High Income$0.534Sep 16, 2026-1.48%$6.34112 payoutsOct 22, 2025: $0.527Nov 26, 2025: $0.522Dec 24, 2025: $0.532Jan 21, 2026: $0.531Feb 18, 2026: $0.522Mar 18, 2026: $0.51Apr 22, 2026: $0.525May 20, 2026: $0.535Jun 16, 2026: $0.531Jul 22, 2026: $0.53Aug 19, 2026: $0.542Sep 16, 2026: $0.534
QYLDNasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF$0.177Sep 21, 2026-3.28%$2.13312 payoutsOct 20, 2025: $0.173Nov 24, 2025: $0.173Dec 22, 2025: $0.178Jan 20, 2026: $0.179Feb 23, 2026: $0.177Mar 23, 2026: $0.172Apr 20, 2026: $0.179May 18, 2026: $0.179Jun 22, 2026: $0.185Jul 20, 2026: $0.178Aug 24, 2026: $0.183Sep 21, 2026: $0.177

Recent dividend payments

The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.

SPYIQYLD
Sep 16, 2026$0.534Sep 21, 2026$0.177
Aug 19, 2026$0.542Aug 24, 2026$0.183
Jul 22, 2026$0.530Jul 20, 2026$0.178
Jun 16, 2026$0.531Jun 22, 2026$0.185
May 20, 2026$0.535May 18, 2026$0.179
Apr 22, 2026$0.525Apr 20, 2026$0.179
Mar 18, 2026$0.510Mar 23, 2026$0.172
Feb 18, 2026$0.522Feb 23, 2026$0.177
Jan 21, 2026$0.531Jan 20, 2026$0.179
Dec 24, 2025$0.532Dec 22, 2025$0.178
Nov 26, 2025$0.522Nov 24, 2025$0.173
Oct 22, 2025$0.527Oct 20, 2025$0.173

SPYI vs QYLD: common questions

Which pays a higher dividend, SPYI or QYLD?

As of September 25, 2026, SPYI yields 11.82% (trailing 12-month) and QYLD yields 11.50% (trailing 12-month), so SPYI currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.

Which has performed better, SPYI or QYLD?

Over the past year with dividends reinvested, SPYI returned +16.64% and QYLD returned +24.05%. Past performance does not predict future results.

What would $10,000 in SPYI vs QYLD be worth after one year?

With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,664 in SPYI and $12,405 in QYLD.

Which is cheaper to own, SPYI or QYLD?

QYLD has the lower expense ratio at 0.61% a year, compared with 0.68% for SPYI. On $10,000 that is roughly $61 vs $68 a year.

How often do SPYI and QYLD pay dividends?

SPYI pays monthly (12 payments in the last 12 months) and QYLD pays monthly (12 payments).

Is SPYI or QYLD the better investment?

It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.

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Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.