PGRI vs SPY
Putnam International Stock ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PGRI or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.
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 | PGRI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 29 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.17% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.84% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PGRI 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.
PGRI vs SPY Performance
Putnam International Stock ETF (PGRI) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PGRI returned +5.84% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, PGRI is up 5.17% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGRI charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PGRI currently yields 0.11% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 27 holdings in PGRI and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% 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 27 positions we hold weights for in PGRI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 29 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PGRI (99.3% of the fund), and 2 for PGRI that do not appear in SPY (4.9%).
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 PGRI 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, PGRI or SPY?
PGRI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PGRI or SPY?
Over the past year PGRI returned +5.84% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGRI or SPY?
PGRI yields 0.11% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PGRI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.