RKNG vs SPY
Defiance Retail Kings ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RKNG or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.4%.
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 | RKNG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 64 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -8.42% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 21, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
RKNG 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.
RKNG vs SPY Performance
Defiance Retail Kings ETF (RKNG) 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. Year to date, RKNG is down 8.42% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RKNG charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RKNG currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
34.0% of RKNG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.9% of SPY's money is in holdings RKNG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in RKNG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 64 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 485 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for RKNG (91.6% of the fund), and 17 for RKNG that do not appear in SPY (49.8%).
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 RKNG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.93% | 3.33% | 0.60% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.10% | 1.51% | 2.59% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 3.85% | 1.27% | 2.58% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc. | 4.79% | 0.20% | 4.59% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 4.07% | 0.10% | 3.97% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 3.01% | 0.72% | 2.29% |
| VRTVertiv Group Corp | 3.55% | 0.16% | 3.39% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 3.35% | 0.32% | 3.03% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 3.37% | 0.28% | 3.09% |
34.0% of RKNG 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, RKNG or SPY?
RKNG has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between RKNG and SPY?
34.0% of RKNG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.9% of SPY's is in holdings RKNG also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in RKNG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RKNG or SPY?
RKNG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RKNG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.