PTNQ vs SPY
Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PTNQ or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%.
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 | PTNQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 103 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.76% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.24% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.77% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.59% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.1%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,807 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.2 years).
PTNQ 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
PTNQ vs SPY Performance
Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF (PTNQ) 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 PTNQ returned +15.24% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, PTNQ is up 9.76% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, PTNQ compounded at +12.77% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.59% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.91% annualized vs +12.38%.
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 14.3% for PTNQ. 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 -28.1% for PTNQ and -34.1% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTNQ charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTNQ currently yields 0.80% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
94.5% of PTNQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 54.4% of SPY's money is in holdings PTNQ also owns.
Most of PTNQ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in PTNQ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 103 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 407 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PTNQ (45.1% of the fund), and 7 for PTNQ that do not appear in SPY (2.4%).
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 PTNQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.09% | 7.71% | 0.38% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.17% | 6.83% | 0.34% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.77% | 5.50% | 0.27% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.71% | 4.08% | 0.63% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.47% | 3.33% | 0.14% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.13% | 2.97% | 0.16% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.23% | 2.67% | 0.56% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.38% | 1.51% | 2.87% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 3.68% | 1.27% | 2.41% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 2.75% | 1.94% | 0.81% |
94.5% of PTNQ 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, PTNQ or SPY?
PTNQ has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTNQ or SPY?
Over the past year PTNQ returned +15.24% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), PTNQ annualized +12.38% vs +12.91% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTNQ or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.3% for PTNQ. Worst drawdown: PTNQ -28.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both PTNQ and SPY?
PTNQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 PTNQ and SPY?
94.5% of PTNQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 54.4% of SPY's is in holdings PTNQ also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in PTNQ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PTNQ or SPY?
PTNQ yields 0.80% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PTNQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.