GARA vs SPY
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GARA or SPY?
SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GARA is less concentrated, with 32.7% 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 | GARA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $410,674.98 | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 40 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.99% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Guinness Atkinson Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
GARA 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.
GARA vs SPY Performance
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF (GARA) is an ETF from Guinness Atkinson Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, GARA is up 7.99% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GARA 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, GARA currently yields 1.56% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
38.3% of GARA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.6% of SPY's money is in holdings GARA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
13 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 503 in SPY, against full books of 40 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GARA (97.8% of the fund), and 1 for GARA that do not appear in SPY (2.7%).
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 GARA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 3.44% | 0.25% | 3.19% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 3.34% | 0.26% | 3.08% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc - Common | 3.43% | 0.16% | 3.27% |
| VTRVentas, Inc. | 3.37% | 0.07% | 3.30% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 3.00% | 0.19% | 2.81% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 2.99% | 0.10% | 2.89% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.81% | 0.15% | 2.66% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corp | 2.77% | 0.12% | 2.65% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.71% | 0.10% | 2.61% |
| PEGPublic Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 2.67% | 0.06% | 2.61% |
38.3% of GARA 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, GARA or SPY?
GARA 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.
What is the holdings overlap between GARA and SPY?
38.3% of GARA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.6% of SPY's is in holdings GARA also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GARA or SPY?
GARA yields 1.56% while SPY yields 1.01%, so GARA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GARA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GARA is less concentrated, with 32.7% 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.