HERD vs SPY
Pacer Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HERD or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HERD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | HERD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $108M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.73% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 7 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +18.50%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +26.31%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.43% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.10% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,927 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 3, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.3 years).
HERD 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.
HERD vs SPY Performance
Pacer Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF (HERD) 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 HERD returned +26.31% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, HERD is up 18.50% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, HERD compounded at +16.43% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.10% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.53% annualized vs +13.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HERD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% 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 -39.4% for HERD 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HERD charges 0.74% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $74 vs $9 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HERD currently yields 2.73% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in HERD and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 6 positions we hold weights for in HERD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 7 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HERD (99.5% of the fund), and 6 for HERD that do not appear in SPY (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HERD and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, HERD or SPY?
HERD has an expense ratio of 0.74% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HERD or SPY?
Over the past year HERD returned +26.31% vs +19.97% for SPY, so HERD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), HERD annualized +13.38% vs +15.53% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HERD or SPY?
HERD has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: HERD -39.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HERD and SPY?
HERD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, HERD or SPY?
HERD yields 2.73% while SPY yields 1.01%, so HERD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HERD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HERD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.