WDTE vs SPYI: Income Fund Comparison
Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US (WDTE) 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: WDTE individual review · SPYI individual review
WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%. 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. 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.
| WDTE | SPYI | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution 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 | 2026-03-07 | 2026-03-06 |
| Author | Adam Hyde, Income Investing Analyst | |
🔒 Full scores available — with Premium subscription
Compare Performance — Free →Fund Attributes: WDTE 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.
Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.
Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
NEOS Investments total ETF AUM is approximately $21.6 billion across all 19 funds as of 03/05/2026.
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.
Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.
$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.
Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.
Risk: WDTE 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 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.
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 WDTE and SPYI — volatility ratings, diversification scores, and analyst notes.
View Plans →Return: WDTE 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.
Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024).
Monthly distributions - confirmed by distribution history showing consistent monthly payments since inception.
See the full Return analysis for both WDTE 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 WDTE and SPYI are available in the Dependable Income Investing app.
See our full scoring methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions: WDTE vs SPYI
Which has a lower expense ratio, WDTE or SPYI?
WDTE: Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high.
SPYI: Management fee and total annual fund operating expenses are 0.68%.
Which fund has more assets under management, WDTE or SPYI?
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.
SPYI: Fund net assets approximately $8.0 billion as of 03/03/2026.
Which fund has been trading longer, WDTE or SPYI?
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.
SPYI: Fund inception was 8/29/2022 - approximately 3.5 years of history as of review date.
Who manages WDTE vs SPYI?
WDTE: Defiance ETFs surpassed $8 Billion in assets under management as of January 2026.
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 WDTE 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 WDTE and SPYI?
Defiance S&P 500 Weekly Distribution ETF - US is a Index Based Fund. Expense ratio is 1.03% which is high. 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, WDTE or SPYI?
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. 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 WDTE and SPYI pay monthly distributions?
WDTE: Weekly distributions (moved from monthly in early October 2024). 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 WDTE 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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