PPH vs SPY
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PPH or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PPH led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.5%.
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 | PPH | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $985M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 26 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.18% | +13.78%Best |
| 1Y Return | +32.25%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.91% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.69% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,617 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2000 to Sep 3, 2026 (26.6 years).
PPH 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 26.6 years both funds cover.
PPH vs SPY Performance
VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PPH returned +32.25% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, PPH is up 13.18% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, PPH compounded at +14.91% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.69% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 27-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.98% annualized vs +4.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 14.8% for PPH. 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 -56.6% for PPH and -56.5% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PPH charges 0.36% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $9 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PPH currently yields 1.92% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
59.9% of PPH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.1% of SPY's money is in holdings PPH also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in PPH and 504 in SPY, against full books of 26 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PPH (95.3% of the fund), and 7 for PPH that do not appear in SPY (6.1%).
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 PPH | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 19.65% | 1.33% | 18.32% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 9.79% | 0.47% | 9.32% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 4.40% | 0.92% | 3.48% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 4.91% | 0.20% | 4.71% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 4.46% | 0.65% | 3.81% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 4.81% | 0.22% | 4.59% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 4.77% | 0.15% | 4.62% |
| CORCencora Inc | 3.75% | 0.09% | 3.66% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc, Class A | 2.16% | 0.05% | 2.11% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 1.21% | 0.03% | 1.18% |
59.9% of PPH 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, PPH or SPY?
PPH has an expense ratio of 0.36% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PPH or SPY?
Over the past year PPH returned +32.25% vs +21.44% for SPY, so PPH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (27 years), PPH annualized +4.29% vs +6.98% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PPH or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.8% for PPH. Worst drawdown: PPH -56.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both PPH and SPY?
PPH and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 PPH and SPY?
59.9% of PPH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.1% of SPY's is in holdings PPH also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in PPH and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PPH or SPY?
PPH yields 1.92% while SPY yields 1.01%, so PPH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PPH?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PPH led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.