Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

SPY vs VIG

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust versus Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

VIG wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	SPY	VIG	Winner
Yield	1.01%	1.51%	VIG wins
Dividend safety	7.4/10	7.9/10	VIG wins
Growth trend	—	—	Tie
Expense ratio	9.45%	4.00%	VIG wins
Scale	$781.2B	$129.5B	SPY wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	1 wins	3 wins	VIG wins

Dimension by dimension

VIG wins on yield (1.51% vs 1.01%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $50 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

VIG's higher yield (1.51%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus SPY's 1.01% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

SPY: 1.01%VIG: 1.51%

VIG wins on safety (7.9/10 vs 7.4/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. VIG scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

VIG (7.9/10) scores 0.5 points higher than SPY (7.4/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

SPY: 7.4/10VIG: 7.9/10

Yield-trend comparison unavailable

One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.

SPY: —VIG: —

VIG is cheaper (4.00% vs 9.45%)

On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $545/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.

On $10,000 invested, VIG's lower expense ratio saves roughly $5/year in fees versus SPY. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.

SPY: 9.45%VIG: 4.00%

SPY is 6.0× larger by AUM

Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

SPY: $781.2BVIG: $129.5B

Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions

Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.

SPY: Qualified-eligibleVIG: Qualified-eligible

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

Which is better for income, SPY or VIG?

VIG wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

SPY vs VIG: which has a higher dividend yield?

SPY yields 1.01% and VIG yields 1.51%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $50 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is SPY or VIG a safer dividend in 2026?

SPY scores 7.4/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VIG scores 7.9/10 (Solid). VIG is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, SPY or VIG?