Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

SPYI vs VIG

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

VIG wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

VIG wins this comparison 3–0 across 6 dimensions. VIG yields 1.48% — higher than SPYI's 1.45% — and carries a 7.2/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.9/10 for SPYI (Solid). VIG wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Both tickers are closely matched on the two dimensions income investors care about most — yield and dividend safety — making this a genuine toss-up where portfolio fit, tax treatment, and expense ratio should drive the final call.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	SPYI	VIG	Winner
Yield	1.45%	1.48%	Tie
Dividend safety	6.9/10	7.2/10	Tie
Growth trend	—	—	Tie
Expense ratio	68.00%	4.00%	VIG wins
Scale	$11.7B	$132.4B	VIG wins
Tax efficiency	Ordinary income	Qualified-eligible	VIG wins
Overall	0 wins	3 wins	VIG wins

Dimension by dimension

SPYI and VIG have nearly identical yields (1.45% vs 1.48%)

Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.

SPYI: 1.45%VIG: 1.48%

Safety scores are too close to call (6.9/10 vs 7.2/10)

Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.

SPYI: 6.9/10VIG: 7.2/10

Yield-trend comparison unavailable

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

SPYI: —VIG: —

VIG is cheaper (4.00% vs 68.00%)

On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $6400/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.

On $10,000 invested, VIG's lower expense ratio saves roughly $64/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.

SPYI: 68.00%VIG: 4.00%

VIG is 11.3× larger by AUM

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

SPYI: $11.7BVIG: $132.4B

VIG 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 VIG 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. VIG's dividends may qualify for the 0–20% qualified dividend rate. In a taxable account, VIG keeps more of your income after taxes.

SPYI: Ordinary incomeVIG: 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, SPYI or VIG?

VIG wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

SPYI vs VIG: which has a higher dividend yield?

SPYI yields 1.45% and VIG yields 1.48%. Yields are within 5 basis points — effectively a coin-flip on income.

Is SPYI or VIG a safer dividend in 2026?

SPYI scores 6.9/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VIG scores 7.2/10 (Solid). VIG is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, SPYI or VIG?