BUL vs SPY
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BUL or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%.
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 | BUL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $143M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.21% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 51 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.30%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +20.38%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.94% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.86% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,745 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 2, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 3, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.3 years).
BUL 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
BUL vs SPY Performance
Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF (BUL) 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 BUL returned +20.38% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BUL is up 15.30% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BUL compounded at +20.94% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.86% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.18% annualized vs +14.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 16.4% 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 -37.3% for BUL and -34.1% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUL 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, BUL currently yields 0.21% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
49.8% of BUL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BUL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
12 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BUL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 51 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 484 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BUL (98.4% of the fund), and 37 for BUL that do not appear in SPY (46.7%).
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 BUL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 5.59% | 0.23% | 5.36% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 4.96% | 0.22% | 4.74% |
| HCAHca-the Healthcare Co | 4.91% | 0.09% | 4.82% |
| CCLCarnival Corporation Common Stock | 4.81% | 0.06% | 4.75% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 4.63% | 0.16% | 4.47% |
| EXPEExpedia Group Inc (consumer Discretionary) | 4.66% | 0.05% | 4.61% |
| TPRTapestry Inc. | 3.92% | 0.05% | 3.87% |
| LVSLas Vegas Sands Corp. | 3.79% | 0.02% | 3.77% |
| VRSNVerisign Inc. | 3.39% | 0.04% | 3.35% |
| FSLRFirst Solar, Inc | 3.26% | 0.04% | 3.22% |
49.8% of BUL 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, BUL or SPY?
BUL 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, BUL or SPY?
Over the past year BUL returned +20.38% vs +19.97% for SPY, so BUL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BUL annualized +14.28% vs +15.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUL or SPY?
BUL has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BUL -37.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BUL and SPY?
BUL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 BUL and SPY?
49.8% of BUL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings BUL also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BUL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUL or SPY?
BUL yields 0.21% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BUL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.