PKW vs SPY
Invesco BuyBack Achievers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PKW or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PKW led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.2%.
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 | PKW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.62% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.74% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 227 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.95% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.54% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.61% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.33% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.3%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,103 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.2% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2006 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.7 years).
PKW 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
PKW vs SPY Performance
Invesco BuyBack Achievers ETF (PKW) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PKW returned +15.54% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, PKW is up 10.95% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, PKW compounded at +18.61% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.33% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, PKW has the edge at +9.82% annualized vs +9.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PKW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.4% 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 -55.3% for PKW 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PKW charges 0.62% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $62 vs $9 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PKW currently yields 0.74% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
71.2% of PKW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.2% of SPY's money is in holdings PKW also owns.
Most of PKW is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
52 positions in common, counted across the 279 positions we hold weights for in PKW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 227 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 443 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for PKW (95.4% of the fund), and 214 for PKW that do not appear in SPY (26.7%).
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 PKW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 5.05% | 0.62% | 4.43% |
| SCHWCharles Schwab Corp. | 5.28% | 0.26% | 5.02% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 4.90% | 0.41% | 4.49% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc. | 4.92% | 0.23% | 4.69% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 4.50% | 0.35% | 4.15% |
| ADBEAdobe Inc | 3.26% | 0.16% | 3.10% |
| JCIJohnson Controls International Plc | 3.19% | 0.14% | 3.05% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp. | 2.78% | 0.14% | 2.64% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 2.77% | 0.14% | 2.63% |
| GMGeneral Motors Co. | 2.56% | 0.12% | 2.44% |
71.2% of PKW 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, PKW or SPY?
PKW has an expense ratio of 0.62% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PKW or SPY?
Over the past year PKW returned +15.54% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), PKW annualized +9.82% vs +9.27% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PKW or SPY?
PKW has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PKW -55.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both PKW and SPY?
PKW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PKW and SPY?
71.2% of PKW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.2% of SPY's is in holdings PKW also owns. They hold 52 positions in common, counted across the 279 positions we hold weights for in PKW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, PKW or SPY?
PKW yields 0.74% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PKW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. PKW led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.