KONG vs SPY
Formidable Fortress ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KONG or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 41.7%.
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 | KONG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $23M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 61 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.34% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.02% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.69% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.09% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.0%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,439 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Formidable Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 21, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 22, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5.2 years).
KONG 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
KONG vs SPY Performance
Formidable Fortress ETF (KONG) is an ETF from Formidable Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KONG returned +6.02% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, KONG is up 6.34% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, KONG compounded at +8.69% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.09% and +13.37% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 12.4% for KONG. 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 -20.0% for KONG and -24.5% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KONG charges 0.89% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $9 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KONG currently yields 0.34% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
83.0% of KONG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 20.8% of SPY's money is in holdings KONG also owns.
Most of KONG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in KONG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 61 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 470 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KONG (78.5% of the fund), and 7 for KONG that do not appear in SPY (14.5%).
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 KONG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.87% | 8.01% | 4.14% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.03% | 5.66% | 0.37% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc | 6.76% | 0.22% | 6.54% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.61% | 2.39% | 0.22% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.77% | 1.93% | 0.84% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 4.07% | 0.09% | 3.98% |
| EMEEmcor Group Inc | 3.98% | 0.05% | 3.93% |
| FFIVF5 Networks Inc. | 3.73% | 0.03% | 3.70% |
| IBKRInteractive Brokers Group Inc | 3.55% | 0.06% | 3.49% |
| TPLTexas Pacific Land Trust | 3.51% | 0.03% | 3.48% |
83.0% of KONG 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, KONG or SPY?
KONG has an expense ratio of 0.89% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KONG or SPY?
Over the past year KONG returned +6.02% 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, KONG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 12.4% for KONG. Worst drawdown: KONG -20.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both KONG and SPY?
KONG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 KONG and SPY?
83.0% of KONG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 20.8% of SPY's is in holdings KONG also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in KONG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KONG or SPY?
KONG yields 0.34% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KONG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 41.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.