KNGZ vs SPY
First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Dividend Aristocrats ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KNGZ or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. KNGZ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. KNGZ is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | KNGZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.43% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 198 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +18.69%Best | +11.45% |
| 1Y Return | +21.96%Best | +15.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.40% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.30% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,326 | $18,093Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.2%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 20, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 22, 2017 to Sep 15, 2026 (9.2 years).
KNGZ 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
KNGZ vs SPY Performance
First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Dividend Aristocrats ETF (KNGZ) 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 KNGZ returned +21.96% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, KNGZ is up 18.69% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, KNGZ compounded at +17.40% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.30% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.02% annualized vs +10.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KNGZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.9% 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 -37.5% for KNGZ 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KNGZ charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KNGZ currently yields 2.43% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.3% of KNGZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 21.8% of SPY's money is in holdings KNGZ also owns.
Most of KNGZ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
97 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in KNGZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 198 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 401 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KNGZ (77.7% of the fund), and 0 for KNGZ 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 KNGZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.00% | 5.66% | 3.66% |
| ACN:IEAccenture PLC Cl A | 5.14% | 0.18% | 4.96% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 4.32% | 0.33% | 3.99% |
| HPQHp Inc. | 4.54% | 0.04% | 4.50% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.78% | 0.32% | 3.46% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 3.59% | 0.27% | 3.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.96% | 2.66% | 1.70% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 3.10% | 0.35% | 2.75% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 3.20% | 0.06% | 3.14% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 3.05% | 0.14% | 2.91% |
99.3% of KNGZ 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, KNGZ or SPY?
KNGZ has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KNGZ or SPY?
Over the past year KNGZ returned +21.96% vs +15.87% for SPY, so KNGZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), KNGZ annualized +10.14% vs +14.02% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KNGZ or SPY?
KNGZ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: KNGZ -37.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both KNGZ and SPY?
KNGZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between KNGZ and SPY?
99.3% of KNGZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 21.8% of SPY's is in holdings KNGZ also owns. They hold 97 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in KNGZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KNGZ or SPY?
KNGZ yields 2.43% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KNGZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KNGZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. KNGZ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. KNGZ is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.