BGLD vs SPY
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BGLD or SPY?
Option Writing 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 | BGLD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $54M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 10 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.39% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.99% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.70% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.12% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,718 | $18,270Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.6 years).
BGLD 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
BGLD vs SPY Performance
FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF (BGLD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BGLD returned +5.99% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BGLD is down 1.39% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BGLD compounded at +19.70% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.12% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.68% annualized vs +9.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 10.1% for BGLD. 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 -16.2% for BGLD and -24.5% 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 0.19. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGLD charges 0.91% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $9 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGLD currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGLD 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, BGLD or SPY?
BGLD has an expense ratio of 0.91% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGLD or SPY?
Over the past year BGLD returned +5.99% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BGLD annualized +9.64% vs +14.68% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGLD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 10.1% for BGLD. Worst drawdown: BGLD -16.2% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both BGLD and SPY?
BGLD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.19, 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, BGLD or SPY?
BGLD yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BGLD?
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.