KMF vs SPY

KMF vs SPY

Which is better, KMF or SPY?

Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPY

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

MetricKMFSPY
Expense Ratio3.20%0.09%Best
AUM$501M$804.7B
Dividend Yield0.00%0.98%
Holdings39505
Volatility (annualized)33.2%14.2%Best
Max Drawdown-94.3%-34.1%Best
$10,000 over 15.6 years$9,409$66,746Best
Fund FamilyKayne Anderson Capital AdvisorsState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap ValueLarge Cap Blend
InceptionNov 24, 2010Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

The two price series end 70 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. KMF has data through Jul 2, 2026 and SPY through Sep 10, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 15.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2010 to Jul 2, 2026 (15.6 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

KMF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.2% compared with 14.2% 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 -94.3% for KMF 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

KMF charges 3.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $9 annually, a gap of $311 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KMF currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

SPY already in KMF2.0%

At least 2.0% of SPY's money is in holdings KMF also owns.

Only one direction is shown: for KMF, our book for it lists positions totalling 113.5% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.

SPY and KMF share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 1069 days apart, KMF as of Aug 31, 2023 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

10 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in KMF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 39 and 505.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in KMFWeight in SPYDifference
WMBWilliams Cos. Inc.10.96%0.13%10.83%
TRGPTarga Resources Corp.9.95%0.08%9.87%
OKEOneok Inc.5.75%0.08%5.67%
SRESempra Energy4.22%0.09%4.13%
XOMExxon Mobil Corp.3.23%0.96%2.27%
NEENextera Energy Inc.3.89%0.27%3.62%
KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de2.43%0.09%2.34%
DUKDuke Energy Corp.1.63%0.15%1.48%
XELXcel Energy Inc.0.97%0.07%0.90%
PSXPhillips 660.67%0.12%0.55%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of KMF and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

KMFSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, KMF or SPY?

KMF has an expense ratio of 3.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $311 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, KMF or SPY?

KMF has been the more volatile fund at 33.2% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: KMF -94.3% vs SPY -34.1%.

Should I hold both KMF and SPY?

KMF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 KMF and SPY?

At least 2.0% of SPY's money is in holdings KMF also owns. Our book for KMF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in KMF and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, KMF or SPY?

KMF yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than KMF?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.