PTLC vs. SPY
PTLC (Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PTLC is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Pacer Trendpilot U.S. Large Cap Index, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, PTLC returned 11.47%/yr vs 15.70%/yr for SPY. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. PTLC charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.
Performance
PTLC vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PTLC achieves a 4.41% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 9.74% return. Over the past 10 years, PTLC has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.47%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.70% annualized return.
PTLC
- 1D
- -0.43%
- 1M
- 0.05%
- YTD
- 4.41%
- 6M
- 3.92%
- 1Y
- 20.14%
- 3Y*
- 13.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.42%
- 10Y*
- 11.47%
SPY
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 0.09%
- YTD
- 9.74%
- 6M
- 9.27%
- 1Y
- 26.65%
- 3Y*
- 21.27%
- 5Y*
- 13.51%
- 10Y*
- 15.70%
PTLC vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTLC Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF | 4.41% | 5.10% | 24.31% | 16.78% | -8.62% | 27.90% | -1.15% | 17.58% | 1.49% | 21.41% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 9.74% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Correlation
The correlation between PTLC and SPY is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.99 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 12, 2015 | 0.85 |
The correlation between PTLC and SPY shifts across timeframes, from 0.84 (5 years) to 0.99 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
PTLC vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
PTLC
SPY
PTLC vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) 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.
| PTLC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.46 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.64 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.39 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | 3.01 | -0.71 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.89 | 13.54 | -4.64 |
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Drawdowns
PTLC vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PTLC drawdown since its inception was -26.63%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PTLC and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PTLC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.63% | -55.19% | +28.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.77% | -8.88% | +0.11% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.17% | -18.76% | +3.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.17% | -24.50% | +9.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.63% | -33.72% | +7.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.79% | -1.75% | -0.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.63% | -9.04% | +3.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.27% | 1.97% | +0.30% |
Volatility
PTLC vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 4.71% and 4.64%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PTLC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.71% | 4.64% | +0.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.10% | 9.75% | -0.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.91% | 12.43% | -0.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.86% | 17.14% | -5.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.23% | 17.99% | -4.76% |
PTLC vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
PTLC has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
PTLC vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
PTLC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, which matches SPY's 1.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTLC Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF | 1.02% | 1.06% | 0.67% | 1.18% | 1.26% | 0.73% | 1.08% | 1.10% | 1.00% | 0.97% | 1.08% | 0.42% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.01% | 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
With a correlation of 0.99, PTLC and SPY move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
PTLC has higher volatility (4.71%) compared to SPY (4.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PTLC dropped -26.63% vs SPY's -55.19%.
On 10-year performance, SPY leads with 15.70% vs 11.47% for PTLC. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. Their volatility is very similar. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SPY has performed better with a 15.70% return vs 11.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for PTLC.
PTLC has the higher dividend yield at 1.02%, compared with 1.01% for SPY.
PTLC is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while SPY is S&P 500. PTLC tracks Pacer Trendpilot U.S. Large Cap Index, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Pacer and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for PTLC and 0.09% for SPY.
SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.16 vs 1.70), 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.
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