GAEM vs SPY
Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GAEM or SPY?
Emerging Markets Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | GAEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $41M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.67% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 80 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.93% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.18% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.7%Best | 12.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.8%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,160 | $14,392Best |
| Fund Family | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Emerging Markets Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 12, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 13, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.1 years).
GAEM 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
GAEM vs SPY Performance
Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF (GAEM) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GAEM returned +6.18% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, GAEM is up 3.93% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.4% compared with 4.7% for GAEM. 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 -3.8% for GAEM and -18.8% 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
GAEM charges 0.76% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $76 vs $9 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAEM currently yields 7.67% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 28 holdings in GAEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 37.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 28 positions we hold weights for in GAEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 80 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GAEM 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, GAEM or SPY?
GAEM has an expense ratio of 0.76% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GAEM or SPY?
Over the past year GAEM returned +6.18% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), GAEM annualized +9.76% vs +18.93% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GAEM or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.4% annualized versus 4.7% for GAEM. Worst drawdown: GAEM -3.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both GAEM and SPY?
GAEM 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, GAEM or SPY?
GAEM yields 7.67% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GAEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GAEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.