Dividend comparison
VOO vs SPYM: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
VOO vs SPYM: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SPYM is cheaper at 0.02% a year versus 0.03% for VOO. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 1.05% for VOO and 1.01% for SPYM. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SPYM returned 82.0% versus 81.8% for VOO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,201 in SPYM and $18,178 in VOO.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.5% for VOO and -24.5% for SPYM from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VOO holds 505 positions and SPYM holds 505. The ten largest positions make up 39.1% of VOO and 38.7% of SPYM.
- 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 VOO.
- Size. VOO is the larger fund with $1.7 trillion in assets, against $182.9 billion for SPYM.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 1.01% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.43 | $0.91 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $1.8226 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.2391 on Sep 15, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 6.8% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $706.80 | $90.53 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 1.01 | 1.01 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -24.5% |
| Market cap | $1.70T | $165.27B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Assets under management | $1.70T | $182.92B |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 505 |
| Top 10 concentration | 39.1% | 38.7% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
VOO
$8.76/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
SPYM
$8.38/mo
$101 /yr at 1.01% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VOO pays quarterly; SPYM pays quarterly.
| Year | VOO | SPYM |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.0678 | $0.9074 |
| 2024 | $6.7035 | $0.8796 |
| 2023 | $6.3572 | $0.8046 |
| 2022 | $5.9467 | $0.7618 |
| 2021 | $5.4367 | $0.6977 |
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.
What VOO vs SPYM actually do
Vanguard's S&P 500 tracker, holding the 500 large-cap US companies in the index at their market-cap weights.
It replicates the index in full and makes no attempt to pick winners, so its return is the index return less a very small fee. As an open-end fund it can lend securities and put incoming dividends back to work inside the portfolio between the quarterly payment dates. Dividends are whatever the underlying companies happen to pay, which means yield is an output of the strategy and never a target of it.
Suits almost any long-horizon US equity allocation, including as the growth engine sitting behind higher-yielding income positions. Not a fit for someone whose portfolio needs to produce meaningful current cash flow.
Core holding
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $18,178 in VOO and $18,201 in SPYM.
| Period | VOO | SPYM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.97% | 0.99% |
| 3 months | 3.87% | 3.90% |
| Year to date | 13.68% | 13.75% |
| 1 year | 15.84% | 15.89% |
| 3 years | 89.23% | 89.27% |
| 5 years | 81.78% | 82.01% |
- VOO
- SPYM
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.
- VOO
- SPYM
VOO vs SPYM 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 | VOO weight | SPYM weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 8.39% | 7.92% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.38% | 7.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.78% | 5.97% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 3.71% | 3.88% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.07% | 3.05% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.45% | 2.44% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.54% | 2.40% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.43% | 2.35% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 1.83% | 1.54% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 1.56% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
VOO505 holdings total
Quick verdict
VOO currently posts the higher TTM yield (1.05%). VOO yields 1.05%; SPYM yields 1.01%. Choose based on whether you prioritize current cash flow, dividend growth, or total return — then model the holding inside your real portfolio.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how VOO vs SPYM fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is VOO or SPYM better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VOO currently yields 1.05% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SPYM yields 1.01%. 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 VOO and SPYM?
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) 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, VOO or SPYM?
SPYM has the lower expense ratio. VOO charges 0.03% a year and SPYM charges 0.02%, a difference of $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VOO or SPYM?
Over the last 5 years, SPYM has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VOO returned 81.8% and SPYM returned 82.0%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VOO or SPYM?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VOO has been riskier: VOO fell as much as 24.5% and SPYM as much as 24.5%. Their betas are 1.01 and 1.01.
How much do VOO and SPYM 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 VOO and SPYM pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $1.8226 for VOO and $0.2391 for SPYM.
How much income does $10,000 in VOO vs SPYM generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VOO would generate roughly $8.76 per month ($105 annually). The same amount in SPYM would produce about $8.38 per month ($101 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VOO and SPYM?
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 VOO vs SPYM with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VOO and SPYM 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.