AUAU vs SPY
Global X Gold Miners ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AUAU or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.2%.
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 | AUAU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $777.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.65% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 242 | 1,011 |
| YTD Return | +1.36% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.80% | +12.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.45% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.87% |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.2% | 38.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AUAU 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.
AUAU vs SPY Performance
Global X Gold Miners ETF (AUAU) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AUAU returned +4.80% while SPY returned +12.45%. Year to date, AUAU is up 1.36% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AUAU charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AUAU currently yields 0.65% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
13.0% of AUAU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings AUAU also owns.
AUAU and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 112 positions we hold weights for in AUAU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 242 and 1,011.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 498 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AUAU (99.5% of the fund), and 16 for AUAU that do not appear in SPY (11.5%).
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 AUAU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 12.99% | 0.18% | 12.81% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AUAU 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, AUAU or SPY?
AUAU has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AUAU or SPY?
Over the past year AUAU returned +4.80% vs +12.45% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AUAU and SPY?
13.0% of AUAU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's is in holdings AUAU also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 112 positions we hold weights for in AUAU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AUAU or SPY?
AUAU yields 0.65% while SPY yields 1.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AUAU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.