KNOW vs SPY
Fundamentals First ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KNOW or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. KNOW is less concentrated, with 30.5% 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 | KNOW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.09% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $9M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 90 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.88% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.98% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.0%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $12,616 | $15,592Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Fundamentals First Fund | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.6 years).
KNOW 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
KNOW vs SPY Performance
Fundamentals First ETF (KNOW) is an ETF from Fundamentals First Fund and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KNOW returned +11.98% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, KNOW is up 10.88% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 10.6% for KNOW. 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 -16.0% for KNOW and -18.8% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KNOW charges 1.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $109 vs $9 annually, a gap of $100 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KNOW currently yields 1.27% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
30.6% of KNOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.2% of SPY's money is in holdings KNOW also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
29 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in KNOW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 90 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 468 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KNOW (87.1% of the fund), and 33 for KNOW that do not appear in SPY (46.4%).
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 KNOW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.62% | 5.66% | 5.04% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.59% | 2.39% | 0.20% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 2.34% | 0.55% | 1.79% |
| KLACKla Corp | 2.26% | 0.34% | 1.92% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.53% | 0.34% | 1.19% |
| GWWWw Grainger Inc. | 1.59% | 0.09% | 1.50% |
| SNASnap-On Inc. | 1.58% | 0.03% | 1.55% |
| ATOAtmos Energy Corp | 1.52% | 0.04% | 1.48% |
| PHParker-Hannifin Corp. | 1.31% | 0.18% | 1.13% |
| HUBBHubbell Inc | 1.40% | 0.04% | 1.36% |
30.6% of KNOW 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, KNOW or SPY?
KNOW has an expense ratio of 1.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $100 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KNOW or SPY?
Over the past year KNOW returned +11.98% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KNOW or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 10.6% for KNOW. Worst drawdown: KNOW -16.0% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both KNOW and SPY?
KNOW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 KNOW and SPY?
30.6% of KNOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.2% of SPY's is in holdings KNOW also owns. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in KNOW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KNOW or SPY?
KNOW yields 1.27% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KNOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KNOW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. KNOW is less concentrated, with 30.5% 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.