LGH vs SPY
HCM Defender 500 Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LGH or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.5%.
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 | LGH | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.00% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $589M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 421 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.05% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.86% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.47% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.23% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,549 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.5% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Howard Capital Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 9, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2019 to Sep 16, 2026 (6.9 years).
LGH 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
LGH vs SPY Performance
HCM Defender 500 Index ETF (LGH) is an ETF from Howard Capital Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LGH returned +8.86% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, LGH is up 4.05% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, LGH compounded at +18.47% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.23% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.82% annualized vs +14.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LGH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 16.8% 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 -29.6% for LGH 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
LGH charges 1.00% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $100 vs $9 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LGH currently yields 0.36% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
79.4% of LGH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 97.1% of SPY's money is in holdings LGH also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside LGH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
396 positions in common, counted across the 416 positions we hold weights for in LGH and 504 in SPY, against full books of 421 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 104 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for LGH (2.4% of the fund), and 19 for LGH that do not appear in SPY (20.4%).
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 LGH | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.31% | 8.01% | 0.70% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.73% | 7.26% | 0.53% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.02% | 5.66% | 0.64% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.44% | 3.79% | 0.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.62% | 2.99% | 0.37% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.33% | 2.66% | 0.33% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.26% | 2.39% | 0.13% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.71% | 1.93% | 0.22% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.42% | 1.60% | 0.18% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.36% | 1.52% | 0.16% |
97.1% of SPY is already inside LGH.
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, LGH or SPY?
LGH has an expense ratio of 1.00% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LGH or SPY?
Over the past year LGH returned +8.86% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), LGH annualized +14.93% vs +15.82% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LGH or SPY?
LGH has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 16.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: LGH -29.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both LGH and SPY?
LGH 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 LGH and SPY?
97.1% of SPY's money is in holdings LGH also owns. 97.1% of SPY's is in holdings LGH also owns. They hold 396 positions in common, counted across the 416 positions we hold weights for in LGH and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, LGH or SPY?
LGH yields 0.36% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LGH?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.