PCLN vs SPY
Pictet Cleaner Planet ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PCLN or SPY?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PCLN led over 1Y. PCLN is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | PCLN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $16M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 59 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +23.46%Best | +13.54% |
| 1Y Return | +25.13%Best | +16.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.9%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PCLN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PCLN vs SPY Performance
Pictet Cleaner Planet ETF (PCLN) is an ETF from Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PCLN returned +25.13% while SPY returned +16.25%. Year to date, PCLN is up 23.46% versus a gain of 13.54% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.6% compared with 13.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCLN charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCLN currently yields 0.06% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
57.9% of PCLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.6% of SPY's money is in holdings PCLN also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in PCLN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 59 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PCLN (91.6% of the fund), and 4 for PCLN that do not appear in SPY (4.0%).
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 PCLN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.53% | 2.48% | 2.05% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 4.20% | 0.51% | 3.69% |
| ECLEcolab, Inc. | 3.56% | 0.11% | 3.45% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 3.25% | 0.29% | 2.96% |
| CDNSCadence Design Systems Inc. | 3.32% | 0.12% | 3.20% |
| TTTt Trane Technologies Plc | 3.09% | 0.14% | 2.95% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.51% | 0.27% | 2.24% |
| NXPINxp Semiconductors Nv Sedol B505Pn7 | 2.47% | 0.09% | 2.38% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 1.78% | 0.52% | 1.26% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 2.22% | 0.07% | 2.15% |
57.9% of PCLN 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PCLN or SPY?
PCLN has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCLN or SPY?
Over the past year PCLN returned +25.13% vs +16.25% for SPY, so PCLN leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCLN or SPY?
PCLN has been the more volatile fund at 23.6% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both PCLN and SPY?
PCLN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 PCLN and SPY?
57.9% of PCLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.6% of SPY's is in holdings PCLN also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in PCLN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PCLN or SPY?
PCLN yields 0.06% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PCLN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PCLN led over 1Y. PCLN is less concentrated, with 37.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.