SPY vs USAI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Pacer American Energy Infrastructure ETF
Which is better, SPY or USAI?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, USAI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.1%.
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 | USAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $121M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 4.12% |
| Holdings | 505 | 37 |
| YTD Return | +13.78% | +28.12%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.44% | +27.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38% | +25.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80% | +21.15%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 28.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -69.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262 | $26,099Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 61.1% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 12, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2017 to Sep 3, 2026 (8.7 years).
SPY vs USAI 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 8.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs USAI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Pacer American Energy Infrastructure ETF (USAI) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% while USAI returned +27.34%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.78% versus a gain of 28.12% for USAI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.38% per year against +25.35% for USAI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +21.15% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.94% annualized vs +11.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.4% compared with 16.4% for SPY. 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 -69.3% for USAI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while USAI charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $75 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 4.12% for USAI.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings USAI also owns. 27.1% of USAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
USAI and SPY share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 35 in USAI, against full books of 505 and 37.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 24 positions for USAI that do not appear in our book for SPY (54.4% of the fund), and 490 for SPY that do not appear in USAI (99.0%).
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.
27.1% of USAI 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, SPY or USAI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while USAI charges 0.75%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or USAI?
Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% vs +27.34% for USAI, so USAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SPY annualized +13.94% vs +11.36% for USAI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or USAI?
USAI has been the more volatile fund at 28.4% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs USAI -69.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and USAI?
SPY and USAI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 SPY and USAI?
27.1% of USAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.1% of USAI's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 35 in USAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or USAI?
SPY yields 1.01% while USAI yields 4.12%, so USAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USAI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, USAI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.