Best Income & Dividend ETFs
Does reaching for yield cost you growth?
Updated July 24, 2026
Dividend and income funds sell a comforting promise — a steady cheque, lower drama — but income isn’t free. A fund tilted toward high payouts often skews away from the fast-growing companies that drive the broad market, so the real question isn’t how much it yields but how its total return (price plus dividends) stacks up against simply owning the index.
That’s what this board measures. Each income and dividend ETF is ranked by one-year total return and set against the S&P 500. A positive “vs S&P 500” column means the income came without a growth penalty this year; a negative one is the cost of the cheque, made visible.
| # | Stock | 1Y total return | vs S&P 500 | 3M | 1M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy ETFETF | +33.9% | +16.2% | +6.6% | +8.5% |
| Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy ETF — +33.9% total return over the past year, +16.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | RDVYFirst Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETFETF | +26.8% | +9.2% | +7.4% | +1.9% |
| First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF — +26.8% total return over the past year, +9.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | SCHDSchwab US Dividend Equity ETFETF | +22.7% | +5.0% | +7.2% | +4.3% |
| Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF — +22.7% total return over the past year, +5.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | DVYiShares Select Dividend ETFETF | +20.7% | +3.1% | +6.4% | +6.0% |
| iShares Select Dividend ETF — +20.7% total return over the past year, +3.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | HDViShares Core High Dividend ETFETF | +20.2% | +2.5% | +7.3% | +6.0% |
| iShares Core High Dividend ETF — +20.2% total return over the past year, +2.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | VYMVanguard High Dividend Yield ETFETF | +20.2% | +2.5% | +4.6% | +2.0% |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF — +20.2% total return over the past year, +2.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | DGROiShares Core Dividend Growth ETFETF | +19.9% | +2.3% | +6.4% | +3.8% |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF — +19.9% total return over the past year, +2.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | SDVYFirst Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETFETF | +19.8% | +2.1% | +2.5% | +3.1% |
| First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF — +19.8% total return over the past year, +2.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | SCHYSchwab International Dividend Equity ETFETF | +18.8% | +1.1% | −1.2% | +0.5% |
| Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF — +18.8% total return over the past year, +1.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETFETF | +16.8% | −0.9% | +6.4% | +0.7% |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF — +16.8% total return over the past year, −0.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | CGDGCapital Group Dividend Growers ETFETF | +13.3% | −4.4% | +3.0% | +1.3% |
| Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF — +13.3% total return over the past year, −4.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | AMLPAlerian MLP ETFETF | +13.1% | −4.5% | +7.6% | +8.7% |
| Alerian MLP ETF — +13.1% total return over the past year, −4.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | NOBLProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETFETF | +10.6% | −7.0% | +4.6% | +3.7% |
| ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF — +10.6% total return over the past year, −7.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | DIVOAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETFETF | +9.8% | −7.8% | +2.0% | +0.4% |
| Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF — +9.8% total return over the past year, −7.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | JEPQJ.P. Morgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETFETF | +5.8% | −11.8% | −1.2% | −4.0% |
| J.P. Morgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF — +5.8% total return over the past year, −11.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | QYLDGlobal X NASDAQ-100 Covered Call ETFETF | +4.6% | −13.1% | −1.9% | −2.9% |
| Global X NASDAQ-100 Covered Call ETF — +4.6% total return over the past year, −13.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | XYLDGlobal X S&P 500 Covered Call ETFETF | +4.2% | −13.4% | +1.1% | −0.2% |
| Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF — +4.2% total return over the past year, −13.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | FTHIFirst Trust BuyWrite Income ETFETF | +2.8% | −14.9% | −0.2% | −1.0% |
| First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF — +2.8% total return over the past year, −14.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | BUYWMain BuyWrite ETFETF | +2.6% | −15.0% | +0.6% | −0.1% |
| Main BuyWrite ETF — +2.6% total return over the past year, −15.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | CGMUCapital Group Municipal Income ETFETF | +1.6% | −16.1% | −1.6% | −1.3% |
| Capital Group Municipal Income ETF — +1.6% total return over the past year, −16.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | FPEIFirst Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETFETF | +0.4% | −17.3% | −1.3% | −1.0% |
| First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities and Income ETF — +0.4% total return over the past year, −17.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | CSHINEOS Enhanced Income 1-3 Month T-Bill ETFETF | −0.2% | −17.9% | −0.0% | +0.0% |
| NEOS Enhanced Income 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF — −0.2% total return over the past year, −17.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | JEPIJPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETFETF | −0.4% | −18.0% | −1.7% | +1.4% |
| JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF — −0.4% total return over the past year, −18.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | FPEFirst Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETFETF | −0.7% | −18.4% | −2.3% | −1.3% |
| First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF — −0.7% total return over the past year, −18.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | REMiShares Mortgage Real Estate ETFETF | −0.8% | −18.4% | −6.0% | +1.1% |
| iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF — −0.8% total return over the past year, −18.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||