KWEB vs SPY
KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KWEB or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | KWEB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.43% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 34 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -26.89% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | -27.16% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +0.21% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -10.68% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.5% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,685 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.9% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | KraneShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 31, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (13.1 years).
KWEB 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 13.1 years both funds cover.
KWEB vs SPY Performance
KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) 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 KWEB returned -27.16% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, KWEB is down 26.89% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, KWEB compounded at +0.21% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -10.68% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.84% annualized vs +1.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KWEB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.5% compared with 14.4% 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 -80.9% for KWEB 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KWEB charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KWEB currently yields 7.43% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 31 holdings in KWEB and 503 in SPY, totalling 98.2% 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 31 positions we hold weights for in KWEB and 503 in SPY, against full books of 34 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KWEB (99.4% of the fund), and 4 for KWEB that do not appear in SPY (13.9%).
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 KWEB 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, KWEB or SPY?
KWEB has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KWEB or SPY?
Over the past year KWEB returned -27.16% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), KWEB annualized +1.88% vs +12.84% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KWEB or SPY?
KWEB has been the more volatile fund at 33.5% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: KWEB -80.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both KWEB and SPY?
KWEB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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, KWEB or SPY?
KWEB yields 7.43% while SPY yields 1.01%, so KWEB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KWEB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.