PLDR vs SPY
Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PLDR or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PLDR led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | PLDR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 56 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.6% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,450 | $18,744Best |
| 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 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 101 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PLDR has data through Jun 9, 2026 and SPY through Sep 18, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2021 to Jun 9, 2026 (5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PLDR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.8% 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 -29.6% for PLDR 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PLDR charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PLDR currently yields 0.35% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 44.0% of SPY's money is in holdings PLDR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PLDR, our book for it covers 92.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, PLDR as of Feb 27, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
43 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PLDR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 56 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PLDR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.17% | 8.01% | 0.16% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.25% | 7.26% | 0.99% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.63% | 5.66% | 1.03% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 6.19% | 2.99% | 3.20% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.85% | 3.79% | 1.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.58% | 2.66% | 0.92% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.87% | 1.93% | 0.94% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.53% | 1.40% | 1.13% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.76% | 1.52% | 0.24% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 1.78% | 0.71% | 1.07% |
44.0% of SPY is already inside PLDR.
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, PLDR or SPY?
PLDR has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PLDR or SPY?
PLDR has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PLDR -29.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both PLDR and SPY?
PLDR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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 PLDR and SPY?
At least 44.0% of SPY's money is in holdings PLDR also owns. Our book for PLDR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 43 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in PLDR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PLDR or SPY?
PLDR yields 0.35% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PLDR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PLDR led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.