Dividend comparison

JNK vs TIP: Which Is Better for Income?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF and iShares TIPS Bond ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

JNK vs TIP: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. TIP is cheaper at 0.18% a year versus 0.40% for JNK. On $10,000 that is $22 a year less in fees.
  • Income. JNK pays more income, yielding 6.87% over the last twelve months versus 4.46% for TIP. That is about $240 more a year on $10,000. Both pay monthly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, JNK returned 14.2% versus -3.9% for TIP, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $11,417 in JNK and $9,610 in TIP.
  • Risk. JNK has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -16.7%, against -14.5% for TIP.
  • Diversification. JNK holds 1,161 positions and TIP holds 48.
  • Dividend growth. JNK grew its yearly payout 8.3% a year over the last 4 years, versus -8.9% for TIP.
  • Size. TIP is the larger fund with $14.4 billion in assets, against $5.6 billion for JNK.

Bottom line: JNK fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. TIP fits better if you care most about lower fees.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricJNK
State Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF
TIP
iShares TIPS Bond ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)6.87%4.46%
Dividend / share (TTM)$6.33$4.71
Payout frequencyMonthlyMonthly
Last dividend$0.5313 on Oct 6, 2026$0.7844 on Aug 6, 2026
Ex-dividend dateOct 1, 2026Aug 3, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)8.3% over 4 yrs-8.9% over 4 yrs
Price$92.24$105.48
Dividend growth streak4 years1 year
Beta0.670.69
Max drawdown (5Y)-16.7%-14.5%
Market cap$7.10B$14.46B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.40%0.18%
Assets under management$5.63B$14.41B
Number of holdings116148
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

JNK

$57.21/mo

$687 /yr at 6.87% yield

TIP

$37.18/mo

$446 /yr at 4.46% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. JNK pays monthly; TIP pays monthly.
YearJNKTIP
2025$6.3585$3.8023
2024$6.3287$2.6860
2023$6.0464$2.9357
2022$5.4563$7.4080
2021$4.6304$5.5286
Strategy: Bonds
Funds that hold government, corporate or municipal debt and pay out the interest as monthly income. The two numbers that explain most of their behavior are duration, which sets how much the price moves when interest rates change, and credit quality, which sets how much extra yield is earned for default risk. Long-term Treasury funds move a lot with rates, while short-term funds behave closer to cash.

Bond prices fall when interest rates rise, and long-duration funds can lose as much as stocks in a fast rate-hiking cycle.

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $11,417 in JNK and $9,610 in TIP.
PeriodJNKTIP
1 month-1.88%0.20%
3 months-2.24%-2.58%
Year to date-0.26%-4.03%
1 year1.10%-5.06%
3 years25.63%9.26%
5 years14.17%-3.90%
  • JNK
  • TIP
8310112020212022202320242025202611496

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 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.
  • JNK
  • TIP
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%100.0%Treasuries99.7%Cash and/or Derivativ…0.3%Technology0.0%Energy0.0%

Quick verdict

JNK fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. TIP fits better if you care most about lower fees. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how JNK vs TIP fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.

Frequently asked questions

Is JNK or TIP better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. JNK currently yields 6.87% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while TIP yields 4.46%. 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 JNK and TIP?
State Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, JNK or TIP?
TIP has the lower expense ratio. JNK charges 0.40% a year and TIP charges 0.18%, a difference of $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, JNK or TIP?
Over the last 5 years, JNK has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: JNK returned 14.2% and TIP returned -3.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, JNK or TIP?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, JNK has been riskier: JNK fell as much as 16.7% and TIP as much as 14.5%. Their betas are 0.67 and 0.69.
How often do JNK and TIP pay dividends?
Both pay monthly. The most recent payments were $0.5313 for JNK and $0.7844 for TIP.
How much income does $10,000 in JNK vs TIP generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in JNK would generate roughly $57.21 per month ($687 annually). The same amount in TIP would produce about $37.18 per month ($446 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both JNK and TIP?
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 JNK vs TIP with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how JNK and TIP 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.

Related comparisons

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.