PTLC vs SPY
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PTLC or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PTLC led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | PTLC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 506 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.93% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.42% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.46% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.60% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 65156.5% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | - | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,814 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Tie | 38.0%Tie |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 22, 2005 to Sep 11, 2026 (20.7 years).
PTLC 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.
PTLC vs SPY Performance
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PTLC returned +10.42% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, PTLC is up 6.93% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, PTLC compounded at +13.46% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.60% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, PTLC has the edge at +36.74% annualized vs +9.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PTLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 65156.5% compared with 15.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTLC charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTLC currently yields 0.99% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.6% of PTLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 99.5% of SPY's money is in holdings PTLC also owns.
Most of PTLC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
494 positions in common, counted across the 500 positions we hold weights for in PTLC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 506 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PTLC (0.2% of the fund), and 4 for PTLC that do not appear in SPY (0.2%).
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 PTLC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.71% | 7.71% | 0.00% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.83% | 6.83% | 0.00% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 5.50% | 0.00% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.08% | 4.08% | 0.00% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.33% | 3.33% | 0.00% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.97% | 2.97% | 0.00% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.67% | 2.67% | 0.00% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.94% | 1.94% | 0.00% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.51% | 0.00% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.44% | 1.44% | 0.00% |
99.6% of PTLC 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, PTLC or SPY?
PTLC has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTLC or SPY?
Over the past year PTLC returned +10.42% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), PTLC annualized +36.74% vs +9.45% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTLC or SPY?
PTLC has been the more volatile fund at 65156.5% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both PTLC and SPY?
PTLC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.06, 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 PTLC and SPY?
99.6% of PTLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 99.5% of SPY's is in holdings PTLC also owns. They hold 494 positions in common, counted across the 500 positions we hold weights for in PTLC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PTLC or SPY?
PTLC yields 0.99% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PTLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PTLC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PTLC led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.