SPHY vs SPYI: ETF Comparison
Compare SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) and SPYI (NEOS S&P 500 High Income 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 SPYI: The Verdict
On average annual total return since inception, SPYI decisively outperforms SPHY: +15.2% per year vs +4.9% per year — a gap of 10.3 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 SPYI has only 4.0 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: SPYI currently yields 12.04% 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.
SPHY vs SPYI 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 |
| SPYI | NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF | NEOS | 8/30/2022 | 4.0y | +77.0% | +15.2% | 12.04% | 0.68% | B |
SPHY vs SPYI — Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SPHY or SPYI?
By average annual total return since inception, SPYI decisively outperforms SPHY (+15.2% 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 SPYI?
SPHY (State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF) is offered by State Street and currently yields 7.54%. SPYI (NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF) is offered by NEOS and yields 12.04%. Their average annual total returns since inception are +4.9% and +15.2% respectively.
Does SPYI pay a higher dividend than SPHY?
SPYI currently yields 12.04% and SPHY yields 7.54%. Remember that yield alone doesn't capture performance — total return (price + dividends) is the fairer comparison.