KF vs SPY
The Korea Fund, Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KF or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
KF 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 69.0%.
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 | KF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.09% |
| AUM | $314M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.80% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 52 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +65.06%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +115.27%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +44.45%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.51%Best | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 43.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.0% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,376Best | $18,044 |
| Top 10 Weight | 69.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 29, 1984 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 16, 2026 (30.7 years).
KF 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
KF vs SPY Performance
The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) is an ETF from The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KF returned +115.27% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, KF is up 65.06% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, KF compounded at +44.45% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +18.51% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, KF has the edge at +16.44% annualized vs +8.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 43.4% 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 -77.0% for KF and -56.5% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 53 holdings in KF and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.7% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, KF as of Jun 30, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in KF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 52 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KF (99.3% of the fund), and 0 for KF that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 KF 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 performed better, KF or SPY?
Over the past year KF returned +115.27% vs +15.52% for SPY, so KF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), KF annualized +16.44% vs +8.73% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KF or SPY?
KF has been the more volatile fund at 43.4% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: KF -77.0% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both KF and SPY?
KF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, KF or SPY?
KF yields 1.80% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KF?
KF 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 69.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.