KNG vs SPY
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KNG or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. KNG is less concentrated, with 16.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | KNG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.23% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 139 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.86% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.35% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.18% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.57% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 16.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,504 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.2%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2018 to Sep 10, 2026 (8.5 years).
KNG 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 8.5 years both funds cover.
KNG vs SPY Performance
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KNG returned +5.35% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, KNG is up 2.86% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, KNG compounded at +6.18% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.57% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.45% annualized vs +6.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 15.5% for KNG. 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 -35.1% for KNG 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KNG charges 0.74% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $74 vs $9 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KNG currently yields 8.23% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.2% of KNG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.6% of SPY's money is in holdings KNG also owns.
Most of KNG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
68 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in KNG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 139 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 426 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KNG (88.9% of the fund), and 0 for KNG 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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in KNG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.42% | 0.92% | 0.50% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.38% | 0.96% | 0.42% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.45% | 0.73% | 0.72% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.37% | 0.65% | 0.72% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.49% | 0.50% | 0.99% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 1.38% | 0.61% | 0.77% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 1.61% | 0.33% | 1.28% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 1.39% | 0.52% | 0.87% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 1.36% | 0.54% | 0.82% |
| EMREmerson Electric Co. | 1.64% | 0.13% | 1.51% |
99.2% of KNG is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, KNG or SPY?
KNG has an expense ratio of 0.74% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KNG or SPY?
Over the past year KNG returned +5.35% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), KNG annualized +6.77% vs +14.45% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KNG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 15.5% for KNG. Worst drawdown: KNG -35.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both KNG and SPY?
KNG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 KNG and SPY?
99.2% of KNG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.6% of SPY's is in holdings KNG also owns. They hold 68 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in KNG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KNG or SPY?
KNG yields 8.23% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KNG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KNG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. KNG is less concentrated, with 16.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.