PSTR vs SPY
PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PSTR or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PSTR led over 1Y, SPY over 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 56.2%.
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 | PSTR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.06% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.66% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 340 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.38%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +16.26%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.9%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.4 years | $14,383 | $15,486Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | PeakShares LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 30, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (2.4 years).
PSTR 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 2.4 years both funds cover.
PSTR vs SPY Performance
PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF (PSTR) is an ETF from PeakShares LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PSTR returned +16.26% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, PSTR is up 11.38% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 7.9% for PSTR. 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 -13.7% for PSTR and -18.8% 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
PSTR charges 1.06% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $106 vs $9 annually, a gap of $97 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSTR currently yields 4.66% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
27.8% of PSTR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 44.8% of SPY's money is in holdings PSTR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
49 positions in common, counted across the 91 positions we hold weights for in PSTR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 340 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 448 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PSTR (54.5% of the fund), and 35 for PSTR that do not appear in SPY (65.3%).
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 PSTR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.72% | 8.01% | 6.29% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.43% | 5.66% | 3.23% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.76% | 7.26% | 6.50% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.40% | 3.79% | 2.39% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.08% | 1.93% | 0.15% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.56% | 2.39% | 0.83% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.30% | 2.66% | 2.36% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.07% | 1.60% | 0.53% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.55% | 1.14% | 0.59% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.85% | 0.56% | 0.29% |
44.8% of SPY is already inside PSTR.
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, PSTR or SPY?
PSTR has an expense ratio of 1.06% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $97 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSTR or SPY?
Over the past year PSTR returned +16.26% vs +15.52% for SPY, so PSTR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PSTR annualized +16.35% vs +19.99% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSTR or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 7.9% for PSTR. Worst drawdown: PSTR -13.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both PSTR and SPY?
PSTR 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 PSTR and SPY?
44.8% of SPY's money is in holdings PSTR also owns. 44.8% of SPY's is in holdings PSTR also owns. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 91 positions we hold weights for in PSTR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSTR or SPY?
PSTR yields 4.66% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PSTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PSTR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PSTR led over 1Y, SPY over 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 56.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.