SPHY vs VOO: ETF Comparison
Compare SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 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.*
SPHY vs VOO: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, VOO decisively outperforms SPHY: +14.9% per year vs +4.9% per year — a gap of 10.0 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.
Income investors will notice the yield gap: SPHY currently yields 7.54% vs VOO's 1.1%. Higher yield often comes with trade-offs in price appreciation, which is exactly why total return is the fairer scoreboard.
SPHY vs VOO Side-by-Side Data
| Symbol | Name | Provider | Inception | Age | Total Return | Avg. Annual Return | Yield | Expense Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard | 9/7/2010 | 16.0y | +823.0% | +14.9% | 1.1% | 0.03% | A |
SPHY vs VOO — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SPHY or VOO?
By average annual total return since inception, VOO decisively outperforms SPHY (+14.9% 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 SPHY and VOO?
SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) is offered by State Street and currently yields 7.54%. VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) is offered by Vanguard and yields 1.1%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +4.9% and +14.9% respectively.
Does VOO pay a higher dividend than SPHY?
VOO currently yields 1.1% and SPHY yields 7.54%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.