JEPQ vs SPHY: ETF Comparison
Compare JEPQ (JPMorgan NASDAQ Equity Premium Income ETF) and SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) side by side by average annual total return since inception — one fair number covering price and dividends.
Updated Sep 15, 2026
*For entertainment purposes ONLY! NOT financial advice! Data may be inaccurate.*
JEPQ vs SPHY: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, JEPQ decisively outperforms SPHY: +15.7% per year vs +4.9% per year — a gap of 10.8 percentage points annually. Total return counts both price movement and dividends, so this is the whole picture of each fund's performance, not just yield.
Keep the track records in mind: SPHY has been trading for 14.2 years, while JEPQ has only 4.4 years of history. A shorter track record means the younger fund's average has been shaped by fewer market environments — one strong or weak stretch moves the needle more.
Income investors will notice the yield gap: JEPQ currently yields 11.7% vs SPHY's 7.54%. Higher yield often comes with trade-offs in price appreciation, which is exactly why total return is the fairer scoreboard.
JEPQ vs SPHY Side-by-Side Data
| Symbol | Name | Provider | Inception | Age | Total Return | Avg. Annual Return | Yield | Expense Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEPQ | JPMorgan NASDAQ Equity Premium Income ETF | JP Morgan | 5/3/2022 | 4.4y | +89.0% | +15.7% | 11.7% | 0.35% | C |
| SPHY | State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | State Street | 6/18/2012 | 14.2y | +97.0% | +4.9% | 7.54% | 0.05% | D |
JEPQ vs SPHY — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, JEPQ or SPHY?
By average annual total return since inception, JEPQ decisively outperforms SPHY (+15.7% vs +4.9% per year). "Better" depends on your goals — yield, payout frequency, and strategy differ between the two funds.
What is the difference between JEPQ and SPHY?
JEPQ (JPMorgan NASDAQ Equity Premium Income ETF) is offered by JP Morgan and currently yields 11.7%. SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) is offered by State Street and yields 7.54%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +15.7% and +4.9% respectively.
Does JEPQ pay a higher dividend than SPHY?
JEPQ currently yields 11.7% and SPHY yields 7.54%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.