Dividend comparison
SPYM vs VFIAX: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SPYM vs VFIAX: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 1.01% for SPYM and 1.04% for VFIAX. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SPYM returned 82.0% versus 80.1% for VFIAX, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,201 in SPYM and $18,011 in VFIAX.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.5% for SPYM and -24.5% for VFIAX from peak to trough.
- Diversification. SPYM holds 505 positions and VFIAX holds 100. The ten largest positions make up 38.7% of SPYM and 39.1% of VFIAX.
- Overlap. At least 73% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 98 shared holdings. Owning both adds little diversification.
- Dividend growth. SPYM grew its yearly payout 6.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.8% for VFIAX.
Bottom line: SPYM has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VFIAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here. With 73% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.01% | 1.04% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.91 | $7.42 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.2391 on Sep 15, 2026 | $1.8186 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 6.8% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $90.53 | $711.99 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 1.01 | 1.01 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -24.5% |
| Market cap | $165.27B | $1.73T |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.02% | — |
| Assets under management | $182.92B | — |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 100 |
| Top 10 concentration | 38.7% | 39.1% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SPYM
$8.38/mo
$101 /yr at 1.01% yield
VFIAX
$8.68/mo
$104 /yr at 1.04% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SPYM pays quarterly; VFIAX pays quarterly.
| Year | SPYM | VFIAX |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.9074 | $7.0637 |
| 2024 | $0.8796 | $6.7049 |
| 2023 | $0.8046 | $6.3670 |
| 2022 | $0.7618 | $5.9527 |
| 2021 | $0.6977 | $5.4367 |
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $18,201 in SPYM and $18,011 in VFIAX.
| Period | SPYM | VFIAX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.99% | 0.62% |
| 3 months | 3.90% | 3.43% |
| Year to date | 13.75% | 12.69% |
| 1 year | 15.89% | 14.48% |
| 3 years | 89.27% | 87.46% |
| 5 years | 82.01% | 80.11% |
- SPYM
- VFIAX
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.
- SPYM
- VFIAX
SPYM vs VFIAX holdings overlap
At least 73% overlap by weight, with 98 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 holdings | SPYM weight | VFIAX weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 7.92% | 8.39% |
| AAPLAPPLE INC | 7.55% | 7.38% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 5.97% | 5.78% |
| AMZNAMAZON.COM INC | 3.88% | 3.71% |
| GOOGLALPHABET INC CL A | 3.05% | 3.07% |
| GOOGALPHABET INC CL C | 2.44% | 2.45% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 2.40% | 2.54% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS INC CLASS A | 2.35% | 2.43% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 1.54% | 1.83% |
| TSLATESLA INC | 1.56% | 1.52% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SPYM505 holdings total
Quick verdict
SPYM has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VFIAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here. With 73% overlap, most investors would hold one or the other rather than both. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is SPYM or VFIAX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SPYM currently yields 1.01% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VFIAX yields 1.04%. 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 SPYM and VFIAX?
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which has performed better, SPYM or VFIAX?
Over the last 5 years, SPYM has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SPYM returned 82.0% and VFIAX returned 80.1%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPYM or VFIAX?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VFIAX has been riskier: SPYM fell as much as 24.5% and VFIAX as much as 24.5%. Their betas are 1.01 and 1.01.
How much do SPYM and VFIAX overlap?
At least 73% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 98 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both adds little diversification.
How often do SPYM and VFIAX pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.2391 for SPYM and $1.8186 for VFIAX.
How much income does $10,000 in SPYM vs VFIAX generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SPYM would generate roughly $8.38 per month ($101 annually). The same amount in VFIAX would produce about $8.68 per month ($104 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SPYM and VFIAX?
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 SPYM vs VFIAX with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SPYM and VFIAX 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.