SCHD vs SPYI: Income Fund Comparison
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US (SCHD) 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.
Also see: SCHD individual review · SPYI individual review
SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%. SCHD oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. 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.
| SCHD | SPYI | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity 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 | 2025-12-15 | 2026-03-06 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: SCHD 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.
One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.
Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets under management.
NEOS Investments total ETF AUM is approximately $21.6 billion across all 19 funds as of 03/05/2026.
Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.
72 Billion in this fund.
Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.
Risk: SCHD 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.
Beta is 0.85 which is lower volatility than the S&P500.
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.
See the full Risk analysis for both SCHD and SPYI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: SCHD 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.
Pays dividends quarterly.
Monthly distributions - confirmed by distribution history showing consistent monthly payments since inception.
See the full Return analysis for both SCHD and SPYI — yield ratings, distribution consistency scores, and capital history.
View Plans →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 SCHD and SPYI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: SCHD vs SPYI
Which has a lower expense ratio, SCHD or SPYI?
SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%.
SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.
Which fund has more assets under management, SCHD or SPYI?
SCHD: 72 Billion in this fund.
SPYI: Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.
Which fund has been trading longer, SCHD or SPYI?
SCHD: Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date.
SPYI: Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.
Who manages SCHD vs SPYI?
SCHD: Schwab has a jaw dropping 10 Trillion in assets 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 SCHD 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 SCHD and SPYI?
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. 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, SCHD or SPYI?
SCHD: One of the lowest MER's you'll find at 0.06%. Oct 20th 2011 was the fund start date. 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 SCHD and SPYI pay monthly distributions?
SCHD: Pays dividends quarterly. 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 SCHD 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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