BULD vs SPY
Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BULD or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BULD led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.8%.
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 | BULD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $15M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.84% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 65 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +32.58%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +34.86%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.57%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.9% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.6% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $18,054 | $19,700Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 4, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 5, 2022 to Sep 23, 2026 (4.4 years).
BULD 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 4.4 years both funds cover.
BULD vs SPY Performance
Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF (BULD) 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 BULD returned +34.86% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, BULD is up 32.58% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, BULD compounded at +24.57% per year against +22.52% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +16.66% annualized vs +14.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BULD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.9% compared with 15.2% 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 -27.6% for BULD and -18.8% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BULD charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BULD currently yields 0.84% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
35.2% of BULD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.8% of SPY's money is in holdings BULD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in BULD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 65 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BULD (97.5% of the fund), and 18 for BULD that do not appear in SPY (22.7%).
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 BULD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 9.05% | 0.08% | 8.97% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 6.92% | 0.55% | 6.37% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 6.85% | 0.53% | 6.32% |
| PTCPtc Inc | 4.82% | 0.03% | 4.79% |
| KLACKla Corp | 3.58% | 0.34% | 3.24% |
| EMREmerson Electric Co. | 1.80% | 0.13% | 1.67% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 1.11% | 0.08% | 1.03% |
| ROKRockwell Automation | 1.03% | 0.07% | 0.96% |
35.2% of BULD 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, BULD or SPY?
BULD has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BULD or SPY?
Over the past year BULD returned +34.86% vs +16.73% for SPY, so BULD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), BULD annualized +14.37% vs +16.66% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BULD or SPY?
BULD has been the more volatile fund at 26.9% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BULD -27.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both BULD and SPY?
BULD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 BULD and SPY?
35.2% of BULD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.8% of SPY's is in holdings BULD also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in BULD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BULD or SPY?
BULD yields 0.84% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BULD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BULD led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.