Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
IVV vs SPYI
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF versus NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
IVV wins 5–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
IVV or SPYI — which is better?
IVV wins this comparison 5–0 across 6 dimensions. IVV yields 1.10% — higher than SPYI's 0.50% — and carries a 7.4/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.9/10 for SPYI (Solid). IVV wins 5–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, IVV generates 1.10% vs 0.50% — a 0.60% difference that translates to $600 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, IVV scores 7.4/10 (Solid) vs 6.9/10 (Solid) for SPYI — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | IVV | SPYI | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.10% | 0.50% | IVV wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.4/10 | 6.9/10 | IVV wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 3.00% | 68.00% | IVV wins |
| Scale | $881.3B | $12.2B | IVV wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Ordinary income | IVV wins |
| Overall | 5 wins | 0 wins | IVV wins |
Dimension by dimension
IVV wins on yield (1.10% vs 0.50%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $60 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
IVV's higher yield (1.10%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus SPYI's 0.50% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
IVV wins on safety (7.4/10 vs 6.9/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. IVV scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
IVV (7.4/10) scores 0.5 points higher than SPYI (6.9/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
IVV is cheaper (3.00% vs 68.00%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $6500/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
On $10,000 invested, IVV's lower expense ratio saves roughly $65/year in fees versus SPYI. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
IVV is 71.9× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
IVV is more tax-efficient in a taxable account
SPYI's distributions are typically taxed as ordinary income (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT) — versus qualified dividends from IVV which get the lower long-term capital gains rate.
SPYI uses a covered-call or options strategy that typically generates ordinary income taxed at your full marginal rate. IVV's dividends may qualify for the 0–20% qualified dividend rate. In a taxable account, IVV keeps more of your income after taxes.
Full breakdown per ticker: are IVV dividends qualified and are SPYI dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
IVV or SPYI — which is better?
IVV is better on our scoring, winning 5–0 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. IVV wins 5–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, IVV or SPYI?
IVV wins 5–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
IVV vs SPYI: which has a higher dividend yield?
IVV yields 1.10% and SPYI yields 0.50%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $60 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is IVV or SPYI a safer dividend in 2026?
IVV scores 7.4/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. SPYI scores 6.9/10 (Solid). IVV is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, IVV or SPYI?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
IVV vs SPYI: which is more tax-efficient?
SPYI's distributions are typically taxed as ordinary income (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT) — versus qualified dividends from IVV which get the lower long-term capital gains rate.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put IVV and SPYI into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding IVV diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.