LBTYK vs. SPY

Last updated Jul 11, 2026

LBTYK (Liberty Global plc) is a stock, while SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, LBTYK returned -4.12%/yr vs 15.22%/yr for SPY. At a 0.50 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

LBTYK vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, LBTYK achieves a -6.97% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 11.30% return. Over the past 10 years, LBTYK has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of -4.12%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.22% annualized return.

LBTYK

• 1D: -0.29%
• 1M: -14.49%
• 6M: -2.00%
• YTD: -6.97%
• 1Y: 0.10%
• 3Y*: 1.44%
• 5Y*: -5.80%
• 10Y*: -4.12%

SPY

• 1D: 0.43%
• 1M: 2.04%
• 6M: 9.35%
• YTD: 11.30%
• 1Y: 22.40%
• 3Y*: 20.99%
• 5Y*: 13.15%
• 10Y*: 15.22%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

LBTYK vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
LBTYK Liberty Global plc	-6.97%	-15.98%	34.64%	-4.07%	-30.83%	18.77%	8.49%	5.62%	-39.01%	13.94%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	11.30%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between LBTYK and SPY is 0.29, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.29
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.30
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.43
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 8, 2005	0.50

Over the past year, the correlation between LBTYK and SPY has dropped to 0.29 - well below their long-term average of 0.50, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

LBTYK vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

LBTYK

LBTYK Risk / Return Rank: 40
LBTYK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 42
LBTYK Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
LBTYK Omega Ratio Rank: 37
LBTYK Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
LBTYK Martin Ratio Rank: 40

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 67
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 67
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 73

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

LBTYK vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	LBTYK	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.07	1.76	-1.83
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.13	2.42	-2.29
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.02	1.32	-0.30
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.13	2.48	-2.61
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.29	10.83	-11.12

LBTYK vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current LBTYK Sharpe Ratio is -0.07, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.76. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of LBTYK and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

LBTYK vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LBTYK drawdown since its inception was -78.54%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LBTYK and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	LBTYK	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-78.54%	-55.19%	-23.35%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.02%	-8.88%	-10.14%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-36.38%	-18.76%	-17.62%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-46.04%	-24.50%	-21.54%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-59.81%	-33.72%	-26.09%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-55.00%	-0.35%	-54.65%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-30.57%	-9.03%	-21.54%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.18%	2.03%	+6.15%

Volatility

LBTYK vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

Liberty Global plc (LBTYK) has a higher volatility of 10.15% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 4.52%. This indicates that LBTYK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	LBTYK	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.15%	4.52%	+5.63%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	26.13%	9.98%	+16.15%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	32.20%	12.55%	+19.65%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	30.86%	17.16%	+13.70%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	31.54%	17.92%	+13.62%

Dividends

LBTYK vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

LBTYK has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.00%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
LBTYK Liberty Global plc	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	8.57%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	1.00%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both LBTYK and SPY in my portfolio?

LBTYK and SPY have a correlation of 0.29, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, LBTYK or SPY?

LBTYK has higher volatility (10.15%) compared to SPY (4.52%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LBTYK dropped -78.54% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.76 vs -0.07), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.