November 5, 2024
W. Andrew Stoner

Does it Matter if I Underperform the S&P 500®?

Does underperforming the S&P 500 matter? See how Inspire ETFs perform while aligning with Biblically Responsible Investing principles.

Inspire Investing is the world’s largest provider of faith-based ETFs and creator of the globally recognized Inspire Impact Score™*, which investors worldwide use to measure the alignment of their investments according to Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) principles. In this article, we will examine performance comparisons of Inspire’s ETFs to the S&P 500 for illustrative purposes of BRI performance (as defined by alignment with Inspire Impact Score™ methodology) versus “secular” markets.

Knowing the Difference: S&P 500 vs. Inspire

The S&P 500 has long been the industry standard for gauging the health of the stock market. Naturally, Inspire ETF investors may compare their portfolios against the S&P 500 to assess their performance relative to the broader market. However, to make a fair comparison, it’s important for Inspire investors to understand the unique composition of the S&P 500 versus BRI portfolios.

According to their website, “The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities. The index includes 500 leading companies and covers approximately 80% of available market capitalization.”1 Because the S&P 500 is also a market-cap-weighted index, the largest companies hold the greatest influence over the index’s performance. For instance, a small group of companies — often referred to as the “Magnificent 7” or “Mag 7,” which includes Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla — make up roughly 30%** of the index’s weight. This means that these companies alone drive about 30% of the S&P 500’s performance.

A recent study from LPL2 illustrates how this concentration skews the S&P 500’s performance. In the first half of the year, the Mag 7 gained 50.92%, lifting the S&P 500’s overall return to 18.12%. However, without these companies, the S&P 500’s return was just 8.32%. Even more telling is the performance of the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index, which returned only 4.60% over the same period. 

For Inspire investors, this is a key point: The S&P 500’s heavy reliance on the Mag 7 distorts performance comparisons. Since these companies currently*** have a negative Inspire Impact Score™ due to their involvement in activities such as funding abortion-related travel, LGBT activism, pornography distribution, sexual exploitation, and the distribution of abortifacients, they are excluded from Inspire ETFs and, therefore, will not contribute to Inspire’s returns in the same way.

To provide further context, consider the Inspire 100 ETF (BIBL), a market-cap-weighted fund comprising 100 large U.S. companies that align with Inspire Impact Score™ methodology. Over the same 6-month period, BIBL returned 9.33%, outperforming the S&P 500 excluding the Mag 7 (8.32%) and the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index (4.60%), but falling short of the Mag 7-driven S&P 500 (18.12%).

Inspire also recently launched the Inspire 500 ETF (ticker PTL), which tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies with neutral or positive Inspire Impact Scores™. Although PTL’s performance for the first half of the year is not available due to its March inception, its inclusion in the Q3 figures below highlights the value of comparing BRI portfolios to indexes less influenced by the Mag 7.

As shown in the chart below, the performance landscape shifted in Q3. The Mag 7 returned just 1.25%, significantly lowering the S&P 500’s total return to 5.60%. In contrast, the S&P 500 excluding the Mag 7 returned 9.25%, while the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index delivered 10.45%. During this period, BIBL posted a solid 7.66% gain, and PTL gained 8.22%.

For Inspire investors, these deviations in performance are crucial to understanding how their portfolios stack up against the S&P 500. When the Mag 7 outperform the broader market — as they did in the first half of the year — Inspire portfolios may seem to underperform. However, when these companies underperform — as seen in Q3 — Inspire portfolios seem to outperform this index. This illustrates why it’s important for Inspire investors to take a more nuanced approach when comparing their performance to the S&P 500.

Conclusion

To address the originally posed question, Inspire’s periodic underperformance relative to the S&P 500 is largely inconsequential, given the S&P 500’s disproportionate exposure to companies in violation of BRI values, as determined by the Inspire Impact Score™ methodology.

As a final word of encouragement to Inspire investors, I leave you with this thought: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). In essence, do not allow the recent dominance of the Mag 7 to deter your commitment to investing in alignment with BRI values. While seasons of relative “underperformance” are inevitable, our unwavering dedication to investing for the glory of God must remain steadfast.

*For more information on the Inspire Impact Score and how it is calculated, go to https://www.inspireinvesting.com/whitepaper/inside-the-inspire-impact-score
**Data sourced from Bloomberg as of September 30, 2024
***Data sourced from inspireinsight.com as of September 30, 2024
Past Performance Disclaimer
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate, so shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For the most recent performance data, please visit www.inspireetf.com. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives or guarantee any returns. Comparisons to benchmarks like the S&P 500 are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the performance of any specific investment. Investors should be aware that the composition and risk characteristics of Inspire's portfolios differ from those of the S&P 500 and other market indices.
Proprietary Products and Conflicts of Interest
Inspire Investing, LLC serves as the investment adviser to a series of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that align with our Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) philosophy, such as the Inspire 100 ETF (BIBL) and the Inspire 500 ETF (PTL). Inspire receives management fees for advising these funds. As a result, Inspire has a financial incentive to recommend these proprietary ETFs to clients over other non-proprietary products. While Inspire strives to act in the best interest of each client and only recommends investments that are suitable based on the client’s specific circumstances and objectives, this practice presents a conflict of interest. You are under no obligation to invest in any Inspire proprietary products. For more details on potential conflicts of interest and our fiduciary obligations, please review our Form ADV Part 2A available at inspireinvesting.com or contact us at 877-658-9473 or inspire@inspireinvesting.com​​.
Relevant links
1https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/#overview
2https://www.lpl.com/research/blog/market-performance-remains-a-tale-of-haves-and-have-nots.html
Important Risk Information
Inspire ETFs invests its assets in securities with an Inspire Impact Score of zero or higher. Funds with a higher score are considered to be biblically responsible companies. As a result of its strategy, the Fund's exclusion of securities of certain issuers for nonfinancial reasons may cause the funds to forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use these criteria. Equity securities may fluctuate in value in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. While the shares of ETFs are tradable on the secondary markets, they may not readily trade in all market conditions and may trade at significant discounts in periods of market stress. ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns. There is no guarantee that the funds will achieve its objective. Securities in the Indexes or in the funds' portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general securities markets or other asset classes.
Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus which contains this and other information visit www.inspireetf.com. Read it carefully. The Inspire ETFs are distributed by Foreside Financial Services LLC< Member FINRA. Inspire and Foreside Financial Services LLC are not affiliated.
The performance of an index is not an exact representation of any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index. Benchmark comparative indexes represent unmanaged or average returns on various financial assets, which can be compared with funds' total returns for the purpose of measuring relative performance.
This content is informational and should not be considered an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Statements in this document, including those related to future performance of Inspire portfolios, are based on current assumptions and beliefs. However, no assurance can be given that such expectations will be achieved. Investment outcomes are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual performance may vary from past trends. Please consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions.

More News