PWS vs SPY
Pacer WealthShield ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PWS or SPY?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
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 | PWS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.11% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 717 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -2.04% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.13% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.16% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.52% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 16.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,263 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (8.8 years).
PWS 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
PWS vs SPY Performance
Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) 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 PWS returned -1.13% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, PWS is down 2.04% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, PWS compounded at +7.16% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.52% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.72% annualized vs +3.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 12.5% for PWS. 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 -24.9% for PWS 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PWS 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, PWS currently yields 2.11% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 56.6% of SPY's money is in holdings PWS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PWS, our book for it covers 79.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
139 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 717 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PWS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.40% | 7.78% | 3.38% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.70% | 7.45% | 3.75% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.99% | 5.71% | 2.72% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.05% | 3.78% | 1.73% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.30% | 2.22% | 0.08% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.97% | 1.37% | 1.60% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 1.19% | 3.12% | 1.93% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.36% | 2.48% | 1.12% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.96% | 0.98% | 0.98% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.25% | 0.66% | 1.59% |
56.6% of SPY is already inside PWS.
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, PWS or SPY?
PWS 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, PWS or SPY?
Over the past year PWS returned -1.13% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PWS annualized +3.99% vs +13.72% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PWS or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 12.5% for PWS. Worst drawdown: PWS -24.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both PWS and SPY?
PWS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 PWS and SPY?
At least 56.6% of SPY's money is in holdings PWS also owns. Our book for PWS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 139 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PWS or SPY?
PWS yields 2.11% while SPY yields 0.99%, so PWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PWS?
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.