ROKT vs SPY
State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ROKT or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROKT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROKT is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | ROKT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.28% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 38 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +23.03%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +54.56%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +37.87%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +22.48%Best | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $27,563Best | $18,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.2%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 19, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 23, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.9 years).
ROKT 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
ROKT vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (ROKT) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ROKT returned +54.56% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ROKT is up 23.03% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ROKT compounded at +37.87% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +22.48% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, ROKT has the edge at +18.48% annualized vs +15.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROKT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 16.7% 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 -43.3% for ROKT and -34.1% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROKT charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ROKT currently yields 0.28% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
38.0% of ROKT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's money is in holdings ROKT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
14 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ROKT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 38 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ROKT (97.2% of the fund), and 22 for ROKT that do not appear in SPY (57.6%).
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 ROKT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTXRaytheon Co. | 3.79% | 0.44% | 3.35% |
| BABoeing Co | 3.52% | 0.28% | 3.24% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 3.48% | 0.18% | 3.30% |
| TDYTeledyne Technologies Inc | 3.52% | 0.05% | 3.47% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 3.14% | 0.11% | 3.03% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 2.92% | 0.08% | 2.84% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 2.50% | 0.32% | 2.18% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 2.46% | 0.15% | 2.31% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 2.44% | 0.02% | 2.42% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.12% | 0.28% | 1.84% |
38.0% of ROKT 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, ROKT or SPY?
ROKT has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ROKT or SPY?
Over the past year ROKT returned +54.56% vs +19.97% for SPY, so ROKT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ROKT annualized +18.48% vs +15.14% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROKT or SPY?
ROKT has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ROKT -43.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ROKT and SPY?
ROKT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 ROKT and SPY?
38.0% of ROKT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's is in holdings ROKT also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ROKT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ROKT or SPY?
ROKT yields 0.28% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ROKT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROKT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROKT is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.