RNP vs SPY
Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RNP or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | RNP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.78% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2,650.69 | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.55% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 327 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.14% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.69% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.82% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.61% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.4% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -90.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,831 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2003 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2003 to Sep 16, 2026 (23.2 years).
RNP 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 23.2 years both funds cover.
RNP vs SPY Performance
Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred and Income Fund, Inc. (RNP) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year RNP returned -5.69% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, RNP is up 3.14% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, RNP compounded at +9.82% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.61% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.55% annualized vs +0.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RNP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.4% compared with 14.5% 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 -90.8% for RNP 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RNP charges 1.78% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $178 vs $9 annually, a gap of $169 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RNP currently yields 7.55% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.2% of SPY's money is in holdings RNP also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for RNP, our book for it lists positions totalling 115.9% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and RNP share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, RNP as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
23 positions in common, counted across the 205 positions we hold weights for in RNP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 327 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RNP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 10.42% | 0.26% | 10.16% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 6.76% | 0.10% | 6.66% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 5.11% | 0.12% | 4.99% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 4.51% | 0.05% | 4.46% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 4.31% | 0.20% | 4.11% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 2.87% | 0.05% | 2.82% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 2.59% | 0.15% | 2.44% |
| KIMKimco Realty Corp. | 2.52% | 0.02% | 2.50% |
| IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv | 2.48% | 0.05% | 2.43% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 2.13% | 0.08% | 2.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RNP 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, RNP or SPY?
RNP has an expense ratio of 1.78% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $169 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RNP or SPY?
Over the past year RNP returned -5.69% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), RNP annualized +0.92% vs +9.55% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RNP or SPY?
RNP has been the more volatile fund at 27.4% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: RNP -90.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both RNP and SPY?
RNP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 RNP and SPY?
At least 2.2% of SPY's money is in holdings RNP also owns. Our book for RNP is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 23 positions in common, counted across the 205 positions we hold weights for in RNP and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RNP or SPY?
RNP yields 7.55% while SPY yields 0.98%, so RNP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RNP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.