Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
SPY vs VT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust versus Vanguard Total World Stock ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
VT 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 or VT — which is better?
VT wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. VT yields 1.53% — higher than SPY's 0.99% — and carries a 7.9/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.4/10 for SPY (Solid). VT wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, VT generates 1.53% vs 0.99% — a 0.54% difference that translates to $540 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, VT scores 7.9/10 (Solid) vs 7.4/10 (Solid) for SPY — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | SPY | VT | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.99% | 1.53% | VT wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 | VT wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 9.45% | 6.00% | VT wins |
| Scale | $809.2B | $101.2B | SPY wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 3 wins | VT wins |
Dimension by dimension
VT wins on yield (1.53% vs 0.99%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
VT's higher yield (1.53%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus SPY's 0.99% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
VT 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. VT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
VT (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.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
VT is cheaper (6.00% vs 9.45%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $345/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
SPY is 8.0× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
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.
Full breakdown per ticker: are SPY dividends qualified and are VT 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
SPY or VT — which is better?
VT is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. VT wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, SPY or VT?
VT 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 VT: which has a higher dividend yield?
SPY yields 0.99% and VT yields 1.53%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is SPY or VT a safer dividend in 2026?
SPY scores 7.4/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VT scores 7.9/10 (Solid). VT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, SPY or VT?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
SPY vs VT: which is more tax-efficient?
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.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put SPY and VT 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 VT diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.