SPYT vs WDTE: Income Fund Comparison
Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF - US (SPYT) and Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US (WDTE) 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: SPYT individual review · WDTE individual review
SPYT: Expense ratio is 0.87%. WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. SPYT the fund was established March 7 2024 - just over 2 years of history. WDTE fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions. Full Dependability and Return scores for both funds are available in the app.
| SPYT | WDTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF - US | Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US |
| Fund Type | Index Based Fund | Index Based Fund |
| Exchange | NYSE/NASDAQ | NYSE/NASDAQ |
| Last Reviewed | 2026-04-07 | 2026-03-07 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: SPYT vs WDTE 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.
Expense ratio is 0.87%.
Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Defiance ETFs manages approximately $7.32 billion across its ETF suite.
Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
The fund was established March 7 2024 - just over 2 years of history.
Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions.
Net assets are approximately $138 million.
$65.51 Million in assets under management which is a very small fund. Fund has shrunk from $72 Million in the previous review - likely due to poor performance.
Risk: SPYT vs WDTE 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 1.0154 vs SPY over the data series from 2024-03-15 to 2026-03-28 - in line with the market. Standalone volatility is 14.23% annualized (weekly total returns) - low to moderate price choppiness.
Beta vs SPY is approximately -0.26 (2023-09-29 to 2026-03-06) - very low / inverse market correlation. Per scoring rules - standalone volatility is used when |beta| < 0.6. Standalone annualized volatility (weekly total returns) is approximately 121.29% - extremely high price choppiness independent of market movements. Combined with severe NAV erosion of approximately -48.87% since inception.
See the full Risk analysis for both SPYT and WDTE — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: SPYT vs WDTE 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.
Monthly distributions confirmed by distribution history.
Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024).
See the full Return analysis for both SPYT and WDTE — 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 SPYT and WDTE are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: SPYT vs WDTE
Which has a lower expense ratio, SPYT or WDTE?
SPYT: Expense ratio is 0.87%.
WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Which fund has more assets under management, SPYT or WDTE?
SPYT: Net assets are approximately $138 million.
WDTE: $65.51 Million in assets under management which is a very small fund. Fund has shrunk from $72 Million in the previous review - likely due to poor performance.
Which fund has been trading longer, SPYT or WDTE?
SPYT: The fund was established March 7 2024 - just over 2 years of history.
WDTE: Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions.
Who manages SPYT vs WDTE?
SPYT: Defiance ETFs manages approximately $7.32 billion across its ETF suite.
WDTE: Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
Where can I see the full SPYT vs WDTE 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 SPYT and WDTE?
Defiance S&P 500 Income Target ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 0.87%. Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. Full comparison including Dependability Score is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Which is better for income investors, SPYT or WDTE?
SPYT: Expense ratio is 0.87%. The fund was established March 7 2024 - just over 2 years of history. WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. Fund inception date was September 18th 2023 - approximately 2.5 years of history as of review date (rounded up to 3 years for scoring). In early October 2024 the fund moved from monthly to weekly distributions. Which scores higher on Dependability and Return is available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
Do SPYT and WDTE pay monthly distributions?
SPYT: Monthly distributions confirmed by distribution history. WDTE: Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024). Full yield and distribution stability scores for both funds are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See the Full SPYT vs WDTE 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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