LPLA vs. SPY

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

LPLA (LPL Financial Holdings Inc.) 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, LPLA returned 31.29%/yr vs 15.08%/yr for SPY. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

LPLA vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) 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, LPLA achieves a -9.93% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 10.45% return. Over the past 10 years, LPLA has outperformed SPY with an annualized return of 31.29%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively lower 15.08% annualized return.

LPLA

• 1D: 1.27%
• 1M: 8.59%
• 6M: -11.95%
• YTD: -9.93%
• 1Y: -13.37%
• 3Y*: 13.83%
• 5Y*: 19.49%
• 10Y*: 31.29%

SPY

• 1D: -0.77%
• 1M: 1.26%
• 6M: 8.34%
• YTD: 10.45%
• 1Y: 21.46%
• 3Y*: 20.07%
• 5Y*: 12.94%
• 10Y*: 15.08%

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

LPLA vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
LPLA LPL Financial Holdings Inc.	-9.93%	9.76%	44.12%	5.88%	35.69%	54.63%	14.58%	52.95%	8.53%	66.03%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	10.45%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between LPLA and SPY is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.31
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.35
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.44
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.50
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2010	0.52

Over the past year, the correlation between LPLA and SPY has dropped to 0.31 - well below their long-term average of 0.52, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

LPLA vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

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

LPLA

LPLA Risk / Return Rank: 29
LPLA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 29
LPLA Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
LPLA Omega Ratio Rank: 28
LPLA Calmar Ratio Rank: 31
LPLA Martin Ratio Rank: 30

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 66
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 64
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 65
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 72

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.

LPLA vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) 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.

	LPLA	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.36	1.71	-2.08
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.27	2.37	-2.63
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.97	1.31	-0.34
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.41	2.43	-2.83
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.76	10.57	-11.33

LPLA vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current LPLA Sharpe Ratio is -0.36, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.71. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of LPLA 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

LPLA vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum LPLA drawdown since its inception was -69.32%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LPLA and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	LPLA	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-69.32%	-55.19%	-14.13%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-33.12%	-8.88%	-24.24%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-33.18%	-18.76%	-14.42%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.18%	-24.50%	-8.68%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-60.34%	-33.72%	-26.62%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-19.24%	-1.12%	-18.12%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.98%	-9.02%	-4.96%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	17.64%	2.03%	+15.61%

Volatility

LPLA vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA) has a higher volatility of 11.85% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 4.26%. This indicates that LPLA'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

	LPLA	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.85%	4.26%	+7.59%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	28.80%	10.01%	+18.79%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	37.16%	12.60%	+24.56%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	36.11%	17.17%	+18.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	37.90%	17.93%	+19.97%

Dividends

LPLA vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

LPLA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.37%, less than SPY's 1.00% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
LPLA LPL Financial Holdings Inc.	0.37%	0.34%	0.37%	0.53%	0.46%	0.62%	0.96%	1.08%	1.64%	1.75%	2.84%	2.34%
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 LPLA and SPY in my portfolio?

LPLA and SPY have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, LPLA or SPY?

LPLA has higher volatility (11.85%) compared to SPY (4.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, LPLA dropped -69.32% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.71 vs -0.36), 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.