PEXL vs SPY
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PEXL or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PEXL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.9%.
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 | PEXL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $54M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.31% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 102 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.65%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +26.94%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.36% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.10% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.9% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,927 | $18,424Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 23, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2018 to Sep 17, 2026 (8.2 years).
PEXL 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 8.2 years both funds cover.
PEXL vs SPY Performance
Pacer US Export Leaders ETF (PEXL) 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 PEXL returned +26.94% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, PEXL is up 16.65% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, PEXL compounded at +19.36% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.10% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.03% annualized vs +13.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PEXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 16.7% 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 -36.9% for PEXL 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PEXL charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PEXL currently yields 0.31% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
96.6% of PEXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.5% of SPY's money is in holdings PEXL also owns.
Most of PEXL is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
70 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 102 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 101 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 427 positions PEXL does not, 65.9% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOG 2.39%, MU 1.60%, TSLA 1.52%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PEXL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.58% | 7.26% | 1.68% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.66% | 5.66% | 1.00% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.84% | 2.99% | 1.85% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.97% | 2.66% | 2.31% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 5.18% | 1.93% | 3.25% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.72% | 1.14% | 3.58% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 3.06% | 0.55% | 2.51% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 3.09% | 0.52% | 2.57% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 2.95% | 0.53% | 2.42% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 2.84% | 0.53% | 2.31% |
96.6% of PEXL 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, PEXL or SPY?
PEXL has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PEXL or SPY?
Over the past year PEXL returned +26.94% vs +16.97% for SPY, so PEXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), PEXL annualized +13.98% vs +14.03% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PEXL or SPY?
PEXL has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PEXL -36.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both PEXL and SPY?
PEXL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PEXL and SPY?
96.6% of PEXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.5% of SPY's is in holdings PEXL also owns. They hold 70 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in PEXL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PEXL or SPY?
PEXL yields 0.31% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PEXL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PEXL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.