IVVW vs SPYI: Income Fund Comparison

iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US (IVVW) and NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF - US (SPYI) are both income-focused funds. Below is our independent side-by-side review using the Dependable Income Investing 13-factor scoring system — designed specifically for income investors seeking reliable, sustainable distributions.

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%. IVVW fund inception date was March 14 2024. SPYI fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.

IVVW SPYI
Fund Name iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF - US
Fund Type Index Based Fund Index Based Fund
Exchange NYSE/NASDAQ NYSE/NASDAQ
Last Reviewed 2025-06-04 2026-03-06
Author , Income Investing Analyst
IVVW
SPYI
Overall Score
Dependability

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Fund Attributes: IVVW vs SPYI 20% of overall score

Fund Attributes cover the foundational characteristics of each fund: cost, company backing, track record, and size. These factors reflect stability and cost-efficiency for long-term income investors.

Criterion
IVVW
SPYI
Expense Ratio
4/5

MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.

3/5

Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.

Fund Company Size
5/5

iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.

5/5

NEOS Investments total ETF AUM is approximately $21.6 billion across all 19 funds as of 03/05/2026.

Fund History
4/5

Fund inception date was March 14 2024.

4/5

Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.

Fund AUM
1/5

40 Million net assets invested in this fund.

5/5

Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.

Risk: IVVW vs SPYI 35% of overall score

Risk factors evaluate how each fund manages volatility, diversification, and the nature of its underlying assets — critical considerations for income investors who prioritise capital preservation.

Criterion
IVVW
SPYI
Volatility
5/5

Portfolio visualizer says the beta is 0.62 which is lower volatility than the overall market.

5/5

Beta is 0.76 vs SPY over fund history (2022-09-09 to 2026-03-06) - below 0.8 threshold indicating lower market sensitivity than the index.

Lower volatility may indicate more stability — important for investors living off their income.
Sector Diversification
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Holding across more sectors reduces the impact of any single industry downturn.
Geographic Diversification
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Exposure across geographies can reduce risk from any single country's economic conditions.
Fund Risk
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The fund's overall risk profile, based on self-reported classifications where available.
Underlying Assets
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What the fund actually holds — stocks, bonds, synthetics, or other funds — affects risk profile significantly.

See the full Risk analysis for both IVVW and SPYI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.

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Return: IVVW vs SPYI 45% of overall score

Return factors assess income generation quality: current yield, distribution consistency, price history, and payment frequency. This is the most heavily weighted category for income investors.

Criterion
IVVW
SPYI
Yield
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The current dividend yield, reflecting the annual income generated relative to fund price.
Yield Stability
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How consistent the distribution amounts have been over time — critical for income investors who budget around payments.
Capital History
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The fund's track record of price appreciation or depreciation, reflecting total return alongside income.
Distribution Frequency
4/5

Pays monthly.

4/5

Monthly distributions - confirmed by distribution history showing consistent monthly payments since inception.

How often the fund pays distributions — monthly payments are generally preferred by income investors.

See the full Return analysis for both IVVW and SPYI — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.

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Our Review Methodology

Every fund reviewed on Dependable Income Investing is scored using our 13-factor Fund Report Card, organised into three weighted categories: Fund Attributes (20%), Risk (35%), and Return (45%). Each criterion is rated 1–5 by our analysts based on publicly available fund data.

We also calculate a Dependability Score — a weighted composite of six income-specific factors ranked by importance for retirement income investors: Yield Stability, Yield, Volatility, Capital History, Fund Risk, and Underlying Assets. This score answers the question income investors care about most: can I depend on this fund to pay me reliably?

Full scores, ratings, and analyst notes for both IVVW and SPYI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See our full scoring methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: IVVW vs SPYI

Which has a lower expense ratio, IVVW or SPYI?

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund.
SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.

Which fund has more assets under management, IVVW or SPYI?

IVVW: 40 Million net assets invested in this fund.
SPYI: Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.

Which fund has been trading longer, IVVW or SPYI?

IVVW: Fund inception date was March 14 2024.
SPYI: Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.

Who manages IVVW vs SPYI?

IVVW: iShares Blackrock has more than 3.3 Trillion under management.
SPYI: NEOS Investments total ETF AUM is approximately $21.6 billion across all 19 funds as of 03/05/2026.

Where can I see the full IVVW vs SPYI comparison with scores?

The complete side-by-side comparison — including all Risk and Return scores, analyst notes, Overall Score, and Dependability Score for both funds — is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

What is the difference between IVVW and SPYI?

iShares S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Which is better for income investors, IVVW or SPYI?

IVVW: MER is 0.25%. This is very low for a covered call fund. Fund inception date was March 14 2024. SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%. Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

Do IVVW and SPYI pay monthly distributions?

IVVW: Pays monthly. SPYI: Monthly distributions - confirmed by distribution history showing consistent monthly payments since inception. Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.

See the Full IVVW vs SPYI Comparison

The Dependable Income Investing app gives you the complete picture: all 13 scoring factors for both funds, Risk and Return analyst notes, Dependability Scores, and tools to compare any income fund side by side.

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