QLC vs SPY
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF compared with State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
QLC
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- SPY yields more today: 1.00% vs 0.95% (forward).
- QLC has grown its payout faster: 10.0%/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 5.
- Over the last year QLC delivered the higher total return: +26.1% vs +19.4% (price change plus payouts).
- SPY is cheaper to own: 0.09% vs 0.25% expense ratio.
- 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 | QLC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $93.24 | $762.40 |
| TTM yield | 0.90% | 0.99% |
| Forward yield | 0.95% | 1.00% |
| Annual payout per share | $0.888 | $7.616 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | Sep 17, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.25% | 0.09% |
| 1-year payout growth | +24.9% | +5.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +10.0% | +6.2% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 5 years | 12 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 73/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | +26.1% | +19.4% |
| 1-year price return | +25.0% | +18.2% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 1.1B | 811.9B |
| Years paying | 10.7 | 33.5 |
| Sector / category | Large Blend | 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
| QLC | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 107.3 | 13.1 |
| Income per year | $95 | $100 |
| Income per month (avg) | $8 | $8 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLC Sep 17, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $0.222 | Est. |
| QLC Dec 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $0.222 | Est. |
| QLC Mar 18, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $0.222 | 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
QLCSPY
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, QLC or SPY?
SPY currently has the higher trailing yield: QLC yields 0.90% and SPY yields 0.99%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do QLC and SPY pay?
QLC pays every quarter and SPY pays every quarter. QLC's next ex-date is Sep 17, 2026 and SPY's is Sep 17, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, QLC or SPY?
QLC has grown its payout faster: 10.0%/yr vs 6.2%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is QLC or SPY better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. QLC 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.