ALTL vs SPY
Pacer Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ALTL or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ALTL is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ALTL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.95% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 202 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +2.72% | +12.70%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.88% | +15.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.86% | +22.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.34% | +13.47%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.9% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,226 | $18,811Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.6%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2020 to Oct 1, 2026 (6.3 years).
ALTL vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 6.3 years both funds cover.
ALTL vs SPY Performance
Pacer Lunt Large Cap Alternator ETF (ALTL) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ALTL returned +2.88% while SPY returned +15.53%. Year to date, ALTL is up 2.72% versus a gain of 12.70% for SPY.
Over three years, ALTL compounded at +9.86% per year against +22.86% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.34% and +13.47% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +17.06% annualized vs +11.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ALTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 15.4% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -31.9% for ALTL and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ALTL charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ALTL currently yields 0.95% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
100.0% of ALTL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 16.2% of SPY's money is in holdings ALTL also owns.
Most of ALTL is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
100 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in ALTL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 202 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 397 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ALTL (83.1% of the fund), and 0 for ALTL that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ALTL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.40% | 1.44% | 0.04% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.90% | 1.43% | 0.53% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.14% | 0.98% | 0.16% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.97% | 0.95% | 0.02% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.94% | 0.71% | 0.23% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.12% | 0.52% | 0.60% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.98% | 0.62% | 0.36% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.07% | 0.52% | 0.55% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.98% | 0.60% | 0.38% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.91% | 0.59% | 0.32% |
100.0% of ALTL is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ALTL or SPY?
ALTL has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ALTL or SPY?
Over the past year ALTL returned +2.88% vs +15.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ALTL annualized +11.18% vs +17.06% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ALTL or SPY?
ALTL has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ALTL -31.9% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both ALTL and SPY?
ALTL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ALTL and SPY?
100.0% of ALTL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 16.2% of SPY's is in holdings ALTL also owns. They hold 100 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in ALTL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ALTL or SPY?
ALTL yields 0.95% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ALTL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ALTL is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.