PATN vs SPY
Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PATN or SPY?
PATN has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PATN led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%.
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 | PATN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $340M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.64% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 108 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +27.18%Best | +14.79% |
| 1Y Return | +35.82%Best | +18.62% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.92% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $18,212Best | $14,260 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.7% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 16, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026 (2.1 years).
PATN 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
PATN vs SPY Performance
Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF (PATN) 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 PATN returned +35.82% while SPY returned +18.62%. Year to date, PATN is up 27.18% versus a gain of 14.79% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PATN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 12.4% 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 -16.8% for PATN 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PATN charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PATN currently yields 1.64% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in PATN and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 99.8% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in PATN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 108 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PATN (99.2% of the fund), and 4 for PATN that do not appear in SPY (1.1%).
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 PATN 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, PATN or SPY?
PATN has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PATN or SPY?
Over the past year PATN returned +35.82% vs +18.62% for SPY, so PATN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PATN annualized +33.04% vs +18.41% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PATN or SPY?
PATN has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PATN -16.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both PATN and SPY?
PATN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, PATN or SPY?
PATN yields 1.64% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PATN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PATN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PATN led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.