If you want maximum headline income
→ SPYD
SPYD leads headline yield (~13.1%). Check the tape for total return and NAV path before sizing up.
Two income funds compared side-by-side using the available DivAgent snapshot. See which one fits your yield strategy.
8-second verdict · always free
If you want maximum headline income
→ SPYD
SPYD leads headline yield (~13.1%). Check the tape for total return and NAV path before sizing up.
If you want total return (paid + price)
→ VYM
VYM leads 1Y total return (~18.5%). Prefer this when you care about paid + price, not yield alone.
If you need sleep-at-night sizing
→ Either, sized right
Matched risk tiers (Tier 2). Differentiate on yield sustainability and total return, not safety rating.
Neither fund currently meets this page's high-yield and NAV-decline screen. That result does not establish distribution sustainability or composition; those require separate issuer evidence.
When the edge flips — yield, total return, or NAV path — we email the updated tape. Plus the free Yield Trap cheat sheet: what high-yield funds actually paid vs what their prices did.
Path A · Still deciding
Related battlesMore SPYD and VYM matchups in the same decision space — different trade-offs.
Path B · Picked a side
Full ticker auditsDeep-dive SPYD or VYM: distribution history, risk tier, peer set.
Audit VYM →Path C · Want a system
Leaderboard & portfoliosSee how income funds rank by risk tier and matrix cell — then track holdings free.
What this means: Both SPYD and VYM fall intoTier 2: Yield Plus. This suggests they share a similar risk profile and volatility expectation.
| Metric | SPYD | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.55% | 18.50% |
| NAV Change (1Y) | 14.55% | 18.50% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.06% | -23.21% |
| Beta | N/A | 0.82 |
* Returns include dividend reinvestment. Drawdown calculates peak-to-trough decline over trailing 12 months.
SPYD (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend) is listed with SPDR as provider. Reported assets under management: $7.4B.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 2, 13.10% annualized yield, 14.55% 1Y NAV change, and 14.55% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
VYM (Vanguard High Div Yield) is listed with Vanguard as provider. Reported index: FTSE High Dividend Yield. Reported holdings: 530. Reported assets under management: $94.6B.
Observed profile: DivAgent currently reports Tier 2, 7.27% annualized yield, 18.50% 1Y NAV change, and 18.50% 1Y total return. The tier is a risk classification; it does not by itself identify the fund's holdings or strategy.
In the head-to-head battle of SPYD vs VYM, the choice depends on your specific goal. SPYD leads Immediate Income with a 13.10% yield. VYM leads 1Y Total Return in the current data.
Compare the reported annualized yield, payout frequency, and DivAgent risk tier.
The Bottom Line Question: If you invest $100,000 today, how much cash will you actually receive each month? Here's the exact math:
SPYD
Annual Yield: 13.10%
$1,092/mo
($13,100/year)
Frequency: quarterly
VYM
Annual Yield: 7.27%
$606/mo
($7,274/year)
Frequency: quarterly
Income Gap: SPYD generates $5,826/year more than VYM on the same $100k investment.
Over 20 years, that's $116,521 in additional cash flow (before reinvestment).
Context Matters: Compare annualized yield with NAV change and total return rather than using the yield figure alone.
Historical data reveals how these funds behave during market stress. VYM has the higher current 1Y total return at 18.50%.
What is Max Drawdown? Max drawdown measures the largest peak-to-trough decline in portfolio value during a specific period. Unlike NAV change (which only looks at start vs. end), max drawdown captures the worst moment of pain an investor experienced.
Illustrative $100,000 Position
SPYD (Smaller Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -14.06%
-$14,060
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
VYM (Larger Reported Drawdown)
Max Drawdown: -23.21%
-$23,210
Illustrative peak-to-trough change
Observed Difference: The reported drawdowns differ by an illustrative $9,150 on a $100k position.
A smaller historical drawdown is one risk observation, not a guarantee of future downside behavior or investor outcomes.
Every investor has a unique risk profile. Use our Portfolio Intelligence tool to see the impact of adding these ETFs to your holdings.