Dividend comparison

JEPI vs ISPY: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF and ProShares - S&P 500 High Income ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

JEPI vs ISPY: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. JEPI is cheaper at 0.35% a year versus 0.55% for ISPY. On $10,000 that is $20 a year less in fees.
  • Income. JEPI pays more income, yielding 7.96% over the last twelve months versus 5.52% for ISPY. That is about $244 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 1 year, ISPY returned 6.6% versus 1.6% for JEPI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $10,661 in ISPY and $10,159 in JEPI.
  • Risk. ISPY has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 1 year was -16.9%, against -13.7% for JEPI.
  • Diversification. ISPY holds 514 positions and JEPI holds 135. The ten largest positions make up 18.3% of JEPI and 44.4% of ISPY.
  • Overlap. At least 31% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 57 shared holdings.
  • Size. JEPI is the larger fund with $46.0 billion in assets, against $1.2 billion for ISPY.

Bottom line: JEPI fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and smaller drawdowns. ISPY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and broader diversification.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricJEPI
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
ISPY
ProShares - S&P 500 High Income ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)7.96%5.52%
Dividend / share (TTM)$4.56$2.65
Payout frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.3413 on Oct 5, 2026$0.2523 on Oct 7, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)2.5% over 4 yrs—
Price$57.36$48.05
Dividend growth streak1 year—
Beta0.430.86
Max drawdown (5Y)-13.7%-16.9%
Market cap$45.72B$1.15B
ExchangeAMEXCBOE
Expense ratio0.35%0.55%
Assets under management$46.01B$1.16B
Number of holdings135514
Top 10 concentration18.3%44.4%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

JEPI

$66.30/mo

$796 /yr at 7.96% yield

ISPY

$46.00/mo

$552 /yr at 5.52% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. JEPI pays monthly; ISPY pays monthly.
YearJEPIISPY
2025$4.6876$3.9051
2024$4.2494—
2023$4.7634—
2022$6.2478—
2021$4.2455—
Strategy: Options income
These funds own equities and sell call options against them, converting a share of future price appreciation into cash paid out now. How much upside is surrendered depends on the design: writing at the money on the whole portfolio pays the most and keeps the least, while writing on a partial slice or using purchased offsets keeps more of a rally. Distributions come mainly from option premium rather than from company dividends, so the headline yield is not comparable to a dividend fund's.

Payouts are variable rather than contractual, are often taxed as ordinary income, and a fund that pays out more than the strategy earns will see its net asset value drift down over time.

What JEPI vs ISPY actually do

An actively managed ETF that holds a defensive slice of US large-cap stocks and earns extra income from S&P 500 call options sold through equity-linked notes.

The equity sleeve is picked from S&P 500 names screened for lower volatility and quality rather than for dividend yield, so it usually moves like a calmer version of the index. Separately the fund holds equity-linked notes whose payoff comes from writing roughly one-month, slightly out-of-the-money calls on the S&P 500 itself, not on the individual stocks it owns. The premium from those notes is distributed monthly, which is why the payout is far larger than the dividends the underlying companies actually pay.

Suits an investor who wants a large monthly cash payment from US large caps and accepts a trimmed share of any strong rally. It fits badly in a high-bracket taxable account, since option income arrives as ordinary income, and badly for an account whose only job is long-run growth.

Moderate-risk equity income

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Dec 20, 2023 would now be worth $12,235 in JEPI and $14,654 in ISPY.
PeriodJEPIISPY
1 month1.99%-0.08%
3 months1.43%1.14%
Year to date0.21%5.30%
1 year1.59%6.61%
3 years29.10%—
5 years33.92%—
  • JEPI
  • ISPY
961251532023202420252026122147

Both series indexed to 100 on 2023-12-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • JEPI
  • ISPY
0%8%17%25%34%Technology15.5%33.5%Financial Services9.7%22.5%Cash & Others17.4%2.5%Healthcare11.6%8.0%Industrials10.1%6.2%Consumer Cyclical8.7%7.4%Communication Services7.5%8.3%Consumer Defensive8.5%3.9%Utilities4.6%1.7%Energy3.1%3.2%Other3.2%2.9%
JEPI vs ISPY holdings overlap
At least 31% overlap by weight, with 57 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Largest shared holdingsJEPI weightISPY weight
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP COMMON1.99%5.05%
AAPLAPPLE INC COMMON STOCK1.94%6.38%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC COMMON1.91%3.28%
NVDANVIDIA CORP COMMON STOCK1.80%6.70%
METAMETA PLATFORMS INC1.80%1.98%
GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A -1.72%2.58%
AVGOBROADCOM INC COMMON1.58%2.03%
LLYELI LILLY AND COMPANY1.04%1.27%
AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES1.00%1.12%
MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC0.98%1.30%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

JEPI135 holdings total

NameWeight
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP COMMON1.99%
AAPLAPPLE INC COMMON STOCK1.94%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC COMMON1.91%
MAMASTERCARD INC COMMON1.91%
VVISA INC COMMON STOCK1.82%
NVDANVIDIA CORP COMMON STOCK1.80%
METAMETA PLATFORMS INC1.80%
ABBVABBVIE INC COMMON STOCK1.74%
GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A -1.72%
EOGEOG RESOURCES INC COMMON1.71%

ISPY514 holdings total

NameWeight
IQMMPROSHARES GENIUS MNY MKT ETF12.97%
NVDANVIDIA CORP6.70%
AAPLAPPLE INC6.38%
MSFTMICROSOFT CORP5.05%
AMZNAMAZON.COM INC3.28%
GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A2.58%
GOOGALPHABET INC-CL C2.06%
AVGOBROADCOM INC2.03%
METAMETA PLATFORMS INC-CLASS A1.98%
TSLATESLA INC1.32%

Quick verdict

JEPI fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today and smaller drawdowns. ISPY fits better if you care most about stronger 1-year returns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions

Is JEPI or ISPY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. JEPI currently yields 7.96% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while ISPY yields 5.52%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between JEPI and ISPY?
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) is an ETF listed on AMEX. ProShares - S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY) is an ETF listed on CBOE. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, JEPI or ISPY?
JEPI has the lower expense ratio. JEPI charges 0.35% a year and ISPY charges 0.55%, a difference of $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, JEPI or ISPY?
Over the last 1 year, ISPY has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: JEPI returned 1.6% and ISPY returned 6.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, JEPI or ISPY?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, ISPY has been riskier: JEPI fell as much as 13.7% and ISPY as much as 16.9%. Their betas are 0.43 and 0.86.
How much do JEPI and ISPY overlap?
At least 31% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 57 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are MSFT, AAPL, AMZN. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do JEPI and ISPY pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.3413 for JEPI and $0.2523 for ISPY.
How much income does $10,000 in JEPI vs ISPY generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in JEPI would generate roughly $66.30 per month ($796 annually). The same amount in ISPY would produce about $46.00 per month ($552 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both JEPI and ISPY?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare JEPI vs ISPY with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how JEPI and ISPY fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.