RKLX vs SPY
Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RKLB ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RKLX or SPY?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RKLX led over the full window, SPY over 1Y.
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 | RKLX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $149M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 39.52% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 22 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -68.08% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -47.65% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 205.8% | 12.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.1% | -13.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $23,957Best | $13,997 |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 13, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
RKLX 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.
RKLX vs SPY Performance
Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RKLB ETF (RKLX) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year RKLX returned -47.65% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, RKLX is down 68.08% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RKLX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 205.8% compared with 12.1% 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 -88.1% for RKLX and -13.7% 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RKLX charges 1.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $129 vs $9 annually, a gap of $120 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RKLX currently yields 39.52% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in RKLX and 504 in SPY, totalling 7.3% and 99.9% 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 1 positions we hold weights for in RKLX and 504 in SPY, against full books of 22 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RKLX 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, RKLX or SPY?
RKLX has an expense ratio of 1.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $120 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RKLX or SPY?
Over the past year RKLX returned -47.65% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RKLX annualized +79.04% vs +25.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RKLX or SPY?
RKLX has been the more volatile fund at 205.8% annualized versus 12.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: RKLX -88.1% vs SPY -13.7%.
Should I hold both RKLX and SPY?
RKLX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, RKLX or SPY?
RKLX yields 39.52% while SPY yields 0.98%, so RKLX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RKLX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RKLX led over the full window, SPY over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.