FAAR vs SPY
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF compared with State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
FAAR
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- FAAR yields more today: 1.83% vs 0.99% (forward).
- FAAR has grown its payout faster: 143.6%/yr vs 6.2%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- SPY has the longer streak of annual increases: 12 years vs 0.
- Over the last year SPY delivered the higher total return: +19.9% vs +7.5% (price change plus payouts).
- SPY has the steadier distribution: consistency 93/100 vs 73/100.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | FAAR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.53 | $765.96 |
| TTM yield | 1.36% | 0.98% |
| Forward yield | 1.83% | 0.99% |
| Annual payout per share | $0.576 | $7.616 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 24, 2026 (est.) | Sep 17, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | — | 0.09% |
| 1-year payout growth | -49.8% | +5.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +143.6% | +6.2% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 0 years | 12 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 73/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | +7.5% | +19.9% |
| 1-year price return | +6.0% | +18.7% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | — | 811.9B |
| Years paying | 8.7 | 33.5 |
| Sector / category | — | Large Blend |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| FAAR | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 317.1 | 13.1 |
| Income per year | $183 | $99 |
| Income per month (avg) | $15 | $8 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model FAAR · Model SPY
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAAR Sep 24, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | $0.144 | Est. |
| FAAR Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | $0.144 | Est. |
| FAAR Mar 25, 2027 | Apr 8, 2027 | $0.144 | Est. |
| SPY Sep 17, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Dec 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Mar 18, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $1.904 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
FAARSPY
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, FAAR or SPY?
FAAR currently has the higher trailing yield: FAAR yields 1.36% and SPY yields 0.98%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do FAAR and SPY pay?
FAAR pays every quarter and SPY pays every quarter. FAAR's next ex-date is Sep 24, 2026 and SPY's is Sep 17, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, FAAR or SPY?
FAAR has grown its payout faster: 143.6%/yr vs 6.2%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is FAAR or SPY better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. FAAR and SPY differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.