LSAT vs SPY

LSAT vs SPY

Which is better, LSAT or SPY?

Tactical Allocation 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 39.0%.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPYLess Concentrated: SPY

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

MetricLSATSPY
Expense Ratio0.99%0.09%Best
AUM$65M$804.7B
Dividend Yield1.62%0.98%
Holdings34505
YTD Return+16.31%Best+13.81%
1Y Return+11.01%+16.94%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+12.20%+22.84%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+7.41%+13.50%Best
Volatility (annualized)15.3%Tie15.3%Tie
Max Drawdown-20.5%Best-24.5%
$10,000 over 5 years$14,296$18,836Best
Top 10 Weight39.0%37.8%Best
Fund FamilyLeaderSharesState Street Investment Management
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleTactical AllocationLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 26, 2020Jan 22, 1993

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 27, 2020 to Sep 22, 2026 (5.9 years).

LSAT 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 5.9 years both funds cover.

LSAT vs SPY Performance

LeaderShares AlphaFactor Tactical Focused ETF (LSAT) is an ETF from LeaderShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LSAT returned +11.01% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, LSAT is up 16.31% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.

Over three years, LSAT compounded at +12.20% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.41% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +16.49% annualized vs +12.65%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

LSAT and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 15.3% annualized.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -20.5% for LSAT 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

LSAT charges 0.99% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $99 vs $9 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LSAT currently yields 1.62% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

LSAT already in SPY25.1%
SPY already in LSAT0.4%

25.1% of LSAT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's money is in holdings LSAT also owns.

LSAT and SPY share little of their money.

8 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in LSAT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 34 and 505.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for LSAT (99.0% of the fund), and 18 for LSAT that do not appear in SPY (61.5%).

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

StockWeight in LSATWeight in SPYDifference
CFCf Industries Holdings Inc.3.71%0.03%3.68%
FTNTFortinet Inc3.53%0.15%3.38%
GDDYGodaddy Inc. Class A3.64%0.02%3.62%
AIGAmerican International Gr3.19%0.06%3.13%
SYFSynchrony Financial3.15%0.04%3.11%
FTVFortive Corp.3.02%0.03%2.99%
DVATotal Renal Care Holdings2.50%0.01%2.49%
LUVSouthwest Airlines Co.2.35%0.03%2.32%

25.1% of LSAT 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.

LSATSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, LSAT or SPY?

LSAT has an expense ratio of 0.99% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, LSAT or SPY?

Over the past year LSAT returned +11.01% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), LSAT annualized +12.65% vs +16.49% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, LSAT or SPY?

LSAT and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 15.3% annualized. Worst drawdown: LSAT -20.5% vs SPY -24.5%.

Should I hold both LSAT and SPY?

LSAT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 LSAT and SPY?

25.1% of LSAT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's is in holdings LSAT also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in LSAT and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, LSAT or SPY?

LSAT yields 1.62% while SPY yields 0.98%, so LSAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than LSAT?

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 39.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.