SPY vs TRND
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF
Which is better, SPY or TRND?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SPY | TRND |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.77% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $63M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 2.14% |
| Holdings | 505 | 7 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +10.62% |
| 1Y Return | +19.97%Best | +15.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +10.39% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.81%Best | +5.25% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 10.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -17.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,270Best | $12,915 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | - |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | May 3, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 6, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.3 years).
SPY vs TRND 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TRND Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Pacer Trendpilot Fund of Funds ETF (TRND) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% while TRND returned +15.73%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.34% versus a gain of 10.62% for TRND.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +10.39% for TRND; over five years the annualized figures are +12.81% and +5.25% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.26% annualized vs +6.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 10.5% for TRND. 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 -34.1% for SPY and -17.9% for TRND. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TRND charges 0.77%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $77 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 2.14% for TRND.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 6 in TRND, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 6 in TRND, against full books of 505 and 7.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for TRND that do not appear in our book for SPY (100.0% of the fund), and 496 for SPY that do not appear in TRND (99.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TRND you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or TRND?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TRND charges 0.77%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TRND?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% vs +15.73% for TRND, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SPY annualized +15.26% vs +6.78% for TRND. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TRND?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 10.5% for TRND. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TRND -17.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and TRND?
SPY and TRND have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TRND?
SPY yields 1.01% while TRND yields 2.14%, so TRND currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TRND better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.