Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund (LGI) is a ETF from Lazard Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LGI returned +19.58% while SPY returned +22.80%. Year to date, LGI is up 11.25% versus a gain of 13.10% for SPY.

Over three years, LGI compounded at +16.76% per year against +20.98% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.85% and +13.20% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.83% annualized vs +1.91%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

LGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 15.3% for SPY. 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 -67.2% for LGI and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

LGI charges 1.72% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $172 vs $9 annually, a gap of $163 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LGI currently yields 9.83% against 1.01% for SPY.