LVHI vs SPY
Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LVHI or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LVHI led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. LVHI is less concentrated, with 22.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | LVHI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5.9B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.74% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 300 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.82%Best | +11.97% |
| 1Y Return | +25.33%Best | +16.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.06%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.0%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,058Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 27, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 28, 2016 to Sep 14, 2026 (10.1 years).
LVHI 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 10.1 years both funds cover.
LVHI vs SPY Performance
Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (LVHI) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LVHI returned +25.33% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, LVHI is up 13.82% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, LVHI compounded at +20.73% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +16.06% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.03% annualized vs +11.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 11.0% for LVHI. 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 -32.3% for LVHI 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LVHI charges 0.40% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $9 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LVHI currently yields 3.74% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 197 holdings in LVHI and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.9% and 99.9% 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 197 positions we hold weights for in LVHI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 300 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for LVHI (99.3% of the fund), and 7 for LVHI that do not appear in SPY (5.3%).
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 LVHI 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, LVHI or SPY?
LVHI has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LVHI or SPY?
Over the past year LVHI returned +25.33% vs +16.40% for SPY, so LVHI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), LVHI annualized +11.26% vs +14.03% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LVHI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 11.0% for LVHI. Worst drawdown: LVHI -32.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both LVHI and SPY?
LVHI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, LVHI or SPY?
LVHI yields 3.74% while SPY yields 0.98%, so LVHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LVHI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LVHI led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. LVHI is less concentrated, with 22.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.