KXI vs SPY
iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, KXI or SPY?
Large 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 49.5%.
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 | KXI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 112 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.02% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.09% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.77% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.02% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -43.9%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,178 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 12, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (20 years).
KXI 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 20 years both funds cover.
KXI vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (KXI) 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 KXI returned +5.09% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, KXI is up 5.02% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, KXI compounded at +6.77% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.02% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.56% annualized vs +5.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.7% for KXI. 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 -43.9% for KXI and -56.5% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KXI charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KXI currently yields 2.35% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
59.3% of KXI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.5% of SPY's money is in holdings KXI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
34 positions in common, counted across the 94 positions we hold weights for in KXI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 112 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 460 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for KXI (95.0% of the fund), and 3 for KXI that do not appear in SPY (0.6%).
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 KXI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 8.31% | 0.73% | 7.58% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 7.22% | 0.63% | 6.59% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 5.96% | 0.52% | 5.44% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 4.54% | 0.44% | 4.10% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 4.46% | 0.50% | 3.96% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 4.46% | 0.29% | 4.17% |
| MOAltria Group Inc. | 3.18% | 0.17% | 3.01% |
| MDLZMondelez International Inc. Class A | 2.01% | 0.12% | 1.89% |
| CLColgate-Palmolive Co | 1.98% | 0.11% | 1.87% |
| MNSTMonster Beverage Corp. | 1.84% | 0.10% | 1.74% |
59.3% of KXI 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, KXI or SPY?
KXI has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KXI or SPY?
Over the past year KXI returned +5.09% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), KXI annualized +5.68% vs +9.56% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KXI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.7% for KXI. Worst drawdown: KXI -43.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both KXI and SPY?
KXI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 KXI and SPY?
59.3% of KXI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.5% of SPY's is in holdings KXI also owns. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 94 positions we hold weights for in KXI and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, KXI or SPY?
KXI yields 2.35% while SPY yields 0.98%, so KXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than KXI?
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 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.