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- etf comparison agent
etf comparison agent
Analyze and compare ETFs by holdings overlap, expense ratios, and structural risks using an evidence-based framework.
$5
Works with the AI tools you already use
etf comparison agent
Example session with this skill installed
Compare VOO and SPY for a long-term buy-and-hold retail investor. Focus on fees and tracking structure. I have the latest fact sheets for both.
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- Compiled the etf comparison agent
- Generated the document
I have analyzed VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) based on your objective of long-term retail holding. While both track the same index, they differ in fee efficiency and structural legal protections.
1. Decision Snapshot
The evidence supports VOO as the more cost-effective choice for long-term retail investors due to its lower expense ratio and ability to reinvest dividends. SPY remains the superior choice for high-volume traders due to its massive liquidity, though this benefit is less relevant for a buy-and-hold strategy.
2. Inputs & Assumptions
| Item | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tickers | VOO, SPY | Verified |
| Objective | Long-term Buy & Hold | Verified |
| Expense Ratio (VOO) | 0.03% | Verified |
| Expense Ratio (SPY) | 0.09% | Verified |
| Structure (VOO) | Open-end Fund | Supported |
| Structure (SPY) | Unit Investment Trust | Supported |
3. Analysis
| Dimension | Score | Evidence | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 5/5 | VOO is 66% cheaper than SPY. | Compounding costs significantly impact 20-year returns. |
| Tracking Structure | 4/5 | SPY is a UIT; VOO can lend securities. | VOO can offset costs via lending; SPY cannot reinvest dividends. |
| Liquidity | 5/5 | SPY has higher daily volume and tighter spreads. | Relevant for large trades; negligible for small retail buys. |
| Holdings Overlap | 5/5 | ~99% overlap (S&P 500 Index). | Confirms funds are functionally identical in exposure. |
4. Key Risks / Gaps
Securities Lending Risk: VOO's open-end structure allows lending, which adds a minor layer of counterparty risk compared to SPY.
*
Dividend Drag: In a rising market, SPY’s inability to reinvest dividends immediately can lead to minor underperformance compared to VOO.
5. Recommended Next Move
Primary action: Verify if your current brokerage offers commission-free trading for both tickers to ensure the fee advantage isn't offset by transaction costs.
Next steps
- Confirm the specific share class availability in your tax-advantaged account.
- Review the most recent tracking error report for VOO to ensure it hasn't deviated from the S&P 500.
What Would Change the Conclusion
If SPY were to lower its expense ratio to 0.03% or if your trade size required the deep liquidity only found in the SPY options market, the recommendation would shift to neutral.
etf-comparison-agent.pdf
PDF · document
Example file from a real run - the skill writes it into your workspace.
Connects securely to your tools. The creator never sees your data.
What you get
About this skill
The problem
Retail investors often struggle to compare ETFs beyond surface-level metrics like price. Overlapping holdings, hidden tracking risks, and complex fee structures make it difficult to identify which fund actually fits a specific research objective.
What it does
- Analyzes fund mandates and index exposure to identify structural differences between similar-looking ETFs.
- Calculates holdings overlap and sector concentration to reveal hidden diversification risks.
- Evaluates liquidity indicators and expense ratios to assess the total cost of ownership.
- Scores funds across eight dimensions including distribution characteristics and tracking structures.
- Identifies critical data gaps and proposes low-cost research actions to resolve uncertainties.
Why this beats prompting it yourself
General-purpose LLMs often hallucinate financial data or provide vague, non-committal advice. This skill enforces a strict evidence ledger that separates verified facts from hypotheses, ensuring every score is backed by a specific observation and a transparent reasoning path.
Use cases
- Comparing two similar index funds to find the one with lower tracking error or better liquidity.
- Deconstructing a thematic ETF to see if the underlying holdings actually match the marketed sector.
- Analyzing a portfolio for unintended geographic or sector concentration across multiple funds.
Known limitations
This tool does not provide personalized investment advice or execute trades. It requires manual input of fund facts or access to external research tools to fetch current market data.
How to install
Works the same in every agent - Claude, Cursor, Codex, Copilot and 20+ more.
- 1
Download the ZIP
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- 2
Unzip into your skills folder
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- 3
Ask your agent to use it
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