KWT vs SPY
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KWT or SPY?
Mid Cap Value 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 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.6%.
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 | KWT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $68M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.48% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 47 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.66% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.55% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.05% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.30% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,223 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 1, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (6 years).
KWT 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 6 years both funds cover.
KWT vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (KWT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year KWT returned -1.55% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, KWT is down 1.66% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, KWT compounded at +10.05% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.30% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.36% annualized vs +11.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 13.7% for KWT. 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 -24.4% for KWT 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KWT charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KWT currently yields 5.48% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 36 holdings in KWT and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.0% 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 36 positions we hold weights for in KWT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 47 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KWT (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for KWT that do not appear in SPY (1.9%).
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 KWT 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, KWT or SPY?
KWT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KWT or SPY?
Over the past year KWT returned -1.55% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), KWT annualized +11.83% vs +15.36% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KWT or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.7% for KWT. Worst drawdown: KWT -24.4% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both KWT and SPY?
KWT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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, KWT or SPY?
KWT yields 5.48% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KWT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KWT?
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 72.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.