CAFG vs SPY
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CAFG or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CAFG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. CAFG is less concentrated, with 26.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | CAFG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $42M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 204 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +26.14%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +27.98%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.78% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.7% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $16,549 | $19,748Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.8%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.5 years).
CAFG 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
CAFG vs SPY Performance
Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (CAFG) 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 CAFG returned +27.98% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, CAFG is up 26.14% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, CAFG compounded at +16.78% per year against +22.36% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +21.46% annualized vs +15.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CAFG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 12.6% 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 -23.7% for CAFG 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CAFG charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CAFG currently yields 0.37% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of CAFG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in CAFG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 204 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CAFG (99.0% of the fund), and 99 for CAFG that do not appear in SPY (99.8%).
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 CAFG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTDTrade Desk Inc-a | 0.25% | 0.01% | 0.24% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CAFG and SPY 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, CAFG or SPY?
CAFG has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CAFG or SPY?
Over the past year CAFG returned +27.98% vs +17.47% for SPY, so CAFG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), CAFG annualized +15.48% vs +21.46% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CAFG or SPY?
CAFG has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 12.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CAFG -23.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both CAFG and SPY?
CAFG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, CAFG or SPY?
CAFG yields 0.37% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CAFG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CAFG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. CAFG is less concentrated, with 26.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.