KARS vs SPY
KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KARS or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | KARS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $79M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.18% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 87 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -9.34% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.06% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.87% | +22.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -8.05% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.6% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $6,573 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.3% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | KraneShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 18, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 19, 2018 to Sep 23, 2026 (8.7 years).
KARS vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 8.7 years both funds cover.
KARS vs SPY Performance
KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index ETF (KARS) is an ETF from KraneShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KARS returned -2.06% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, KARS is down 9.34% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, KARS compounded at +1.87% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -8.05% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.27% annualized vs +2.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KARS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.6% compared with 16.4% 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 -64.8% for KARS and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KARS charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KARS currently yields 0.18% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
6.5% of KARS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.5% of SPY's money is in holdings KARS also owns.
KARS and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in KARS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 87 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KARS (97.8% of the fund), and 10 for KARS that do not appear in SPY (13.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KARS and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, KARS or SPY?
KARS has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KARS or SPY?
Over the past year KARS returned -2.06% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), KARS annualized +2.88% vs +13.27% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KARS or SPY?
KARS has been the more volatile fund at 28.6% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: KARS -64.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both KARS and SPY?
KARS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between KARS and SPY?
6.5% of KARS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.5% of SPY's is in holdings KARS also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in KARS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KARS or SPY?
KARS yields 0.18% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KARS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.