KSTR vs SPY
KraneShares China Technology & Semiconductor STAR 50 Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KSTR or SPY?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. KSTR led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.5%.
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 | KSTR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $408M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 53 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.88%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +38.96%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.81% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.29% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2729.4% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | - | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,371 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | KraneShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 27, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 1996 to Sep 4, 2026 (30.7 years).
KSTR 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
KSTR vs SPY Performance
KraneShares China Technology & Semiconductor STAR 50 Index ETF (KSTR) is an ETF from KraneShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KSTR returned +38.96% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, KSTR is up 19.88% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, KSTR compounded at +20.81% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.29% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.84% annualized vs -8.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KSTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 2729.4% compared with 15.2% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KSTR 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, KSTR currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 49 holdings in KSTR and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.3% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in KSTR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 53 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KSTR (99.5% of the fund), and 0 for KSTR 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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KSTR and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, KSTR or SPY?
KSTR 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, KSTR or SPY?
Over the past year KSTR returned +38.96% vs +19.97% for SPY, so KSTR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), KSTR annualized -8.67% vs +8.84% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KSTR or SPY?
KSTR has been the more volatile fund at 2729.4% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY.
Should I hold both KSTR and SPY?
KSTR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, KSTR or SPY?
KSTR yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KSTR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. KSTR led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.