Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
SPYI vs VOO
NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF versus Vanguard Group, Inc. - Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
VOO wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
VOO wins this comparison 4–1 across 6 dimensions. VOO yields 1.04% — lower than SPYI's 1.45% — and carries a 7.4/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 6.9/10 for SPYI (Solid). VOO wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, SPYI generates 1.45% vs 1.04% — a 0.41% difference that translates to $410 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, VOO 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 | SPYI | VOO | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.45% | 1.04% | SPYI wins |
| Dividend safety | 6.9/10 | 7.4/10 | VOO wins |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 68.00% | 3.00% | VOO wins |
| Scale | $11.7B | $1.8T | VOO wins |
| Tax efficiency | Ordinary income | Qualified-eligible | VOO wins |
| Overall | 1 wins | 4 wins | VOO wins |
Dimension by dimension
SPYI wins on yield (1.45% vs 1.04%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $41 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
SPYI's higher yield (1.45%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus VOO's 1.04% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
VOO 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. VOO scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
VOO (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.
VOO 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, VOO'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.
VOO is 150.0× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
VOO 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 VOO 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. VOO's dividends may qualify for the 0–20% qualified dividend rate. In a taxable account, VOO keeps more of your income after taxes.
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 VOO?
VOO wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPYI can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
SPYI vs VOO: which has a higher dividend yield?
SPYI yields 1.45% and VOO yields 1.04%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $41 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is SPYI or VOO a safer dividend in 2026?
SPYI scores 6.9/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VOO scores 7.4/10 (Solid). VOO is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, SPYI or VOO?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
SPYI vs VOO: which is more tax-efficient?
SPYI's distributions are typically taxed as ordinary income (covered call ETF, REIT, or mREIT) — versus qualified dividends from VOO which get the lower long-term capital gains rate.
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