PGRO vs SPY
Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PGRO or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PGRO led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%.
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 | PGRO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $209M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 44 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.52% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.12% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.99% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.7% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,098 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.1% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 25, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.3 years).
PGRO 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
PGRO vs SPY Performance
Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF (PGRO) 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 PGRO returned +4.12% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, PGRO is up 3.52% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, PGRO compounded at +21.18% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.99% and +12.53% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PGRO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 15.4% 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 -34.7% for PGRO and -24.5% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PGRO 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, PGRO currently yields 0.02% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.1% of PGRO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 46.3% of SPY's money is in holdings PGRO also owns.
Most of PGRO is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
36 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in PGRO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 44 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 461 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PGRO (53.0% of the fund), and 3 for PGRO that do not appear in SPY (4.2%).
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 PGRO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 12.54% | 8.01% | 4.53% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.35% | 7.26% | 0.91% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 10.33% | 2.99% | 7.34% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.88% | 5.66% | 0.78% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.73% | 2.66% | 3.07% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.98% | 3.79% | 0.81% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.68% | 1.40% | 3.28% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.07% | 1.93% | 2.14% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.72% | 1.60% | 1.12% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.65% | 1.52% | 1.13% |
95.1% of PGRO 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, PGRO or SPY?
PGRO 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, PGRO or SPY?
Over the past year PGRO returned +4.12% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PGRO or SPY?
PGRO has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PGRO -34.7% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both PGRO and SPY?
PGRO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, 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 PGRO and SPY?
95.1% of PGRO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 46.3% of SPY's is in holdings PGRO also owns. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in PGRO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PGRO or SPY?
PGRO yields 0.02% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PGRO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PGRO led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.