LSEQ vs SPY
Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LSEQ or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LSEQ led over 1Y, SPY over 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 | LSEQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.28% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.74% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 155 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.26%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +23.20%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -10.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $14,316 | $17,287Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 3, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 4, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.8 years).
LSEQ 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
LSEQ vs SPY Performance
Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF (LSEQ) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LSEQ returned +23.20% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, LSEQ is up 22.26% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LSEQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 11.8% 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 -10.9% for LSEQ 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 0.27. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LSEQ charges 2.28% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $228 vs $9 annually, a gap of $219 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LSEQ currently yields 1.74% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 18.1% of SPY's money is in holdings LSEQ also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for LSEQ, our book for it lists positions totalling 124.1% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and LSEQ share little of their money.
80 positions in common, counted across the 156 positions we hold weights for in LSEQ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 155 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in LSEQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | -1.70% | 5.66% | 7.36% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 2.70% | 0.20% | 2.50% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.80% | 0.99% | 0.81% |
| VLOValero Energy | 2.10% | 0.16% | 1.94% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.70% | 1.40% | 0.70% |
| BAXBaxter International Inc. | 2.00% | 0.02% | 1.98% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 1.70% | 0.17% | 1.53% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | 1.10% | 0.32% | 0.78% |
| VEEVVeeva Systems Inc | 1.20% | 0.06% | 1.14% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 0.80% | 0.45% | 0.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LSEQ 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, LSEQ or SPY?
LSEQ has an expense ratio of 2.28% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $219 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LSEQ or SPY?
Over the past year LSEQ returned +23.20% vs +16.29% for SPY, so LSEQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LSEQ or SPY?
LSEQ has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 11.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: LSEQ -10.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both LSEQ and SPY?
LSEQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.27, 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 LSEQ and SPY?
At least 18.1% of SPY's money is in holdings LSEQ also owns. Our book for LSEQ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 80 positions in common, counted across the 156 positions we hold weights for in LSEQ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, LSEQ or SPY?
LSEQ yields 1.74% while SPY yields 0.98%, so LSEQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LSEQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LSEQ led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.