GCV vs VOO
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GCV or VOO?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, VOO over 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 | GCV | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.61% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 124 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +9.79% | +11.01%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.27%Best | +15.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.89% | +20.82%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.20% | +12.60%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -50.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,706 | $18,101Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 1995 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 16, 2026 (16 years).
GCV vs VOO 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.
GCV vs VOO Performance
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GCV returned +16.27% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, GCV is up 9.79% versus a gain of 11.01% for VOO.
Over three years, GCV compounded at +17.89% per year against +20.82% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +3.20% and +12.60% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.30% annualized vs +1.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -50.5% for GCV and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCV charges 3.20% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $3 annually, a gap of $317 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 10.61% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.2% of VOO's money is in holdings GCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GCV, our book for it covers 50.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and GCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, GCV as of Mar 31, 2026 and VOO as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
24 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 494 in VOO, against full books of 124 and 509.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GCV | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 2.52% | 0.28% | 2.24% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.06% | 1.99% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.01% | 0.10% | 1.91% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.11% | 1.46% | 1.35% |
| BABoeing Co | 1.12% | 0.26% | 0.86% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.09% | 0.96% | 0.87% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 0.34% | 0.58% | 0.24% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.18% | 0.66% | 0.48% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 0.64% | 0.17% | 0.47% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 0.70% | 0.05% | 0.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCV and VOO 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, GCV or VOO?
GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $317 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCV or VOO?
Over the past year GCV returned +16.27% vs +15.60% for VOO, so GCV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GCV annualized +1.98% vs +13.30% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCV or VOO?
GCV has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GCV -50.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GCV and VOO?
GCV and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 GCV and VOO?
At least 7.2% of VOO's money is in holdings GCV also owns. Our book for GCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GCV or VOO?
GCV yields 10.61% while VOO yields 1.04%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GCV?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. GCV led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.