GDV vs SPY
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GDV or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | GDV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.5B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.23% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 715 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.91% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.99% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.65% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.60% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,106 | $18,173Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2003 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2003 to Sep 8, 2026 (22.8 years).
GDV 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 22.8 years both funds cover.
GDV vs SPY Performance
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GDV returned +17.99% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, GDV is up 11.91% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, GDV compounded at +20.65% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.60% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.42% annualized vs +3.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 14.6% for SPY. 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 -73.3% for GDV and -56.5% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDV charges 1.30% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $9 annually, a gap of $121 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDV currently yields 5.23% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 79.4% of SPY's money is in holdings GDV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GDV, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
Most of SPY is already inside GDV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, GDV as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
221 positions in common, counted across the 677 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 503 in SPY, against full books of 715 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.32% | 7.71% | 6.39% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 0.97% | 6.83% | 5.86% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.41% | 5.50% | 4.09% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.87% | 4.08% | 3.21% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc., Class C | 1.67% | 2.67% | 1.00% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.42% | 1.44% | 0.98% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 0.27% | 3.33% | 3.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.59% | 2.97% | 2.38% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.40% | 0.69% | 1.71% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.53% | 1.33% | 0.20% |
79.4% of SPY is already inside GDV.
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, GDV or SPY?
GDV has an expense ratio of 1.30% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $121 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDV or SPY?
Over the past year GDV returned +17.99% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), GDV annualized +3.29% vs +9.42% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDV or SPY?
GDV has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GDV -73.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both GDV and SPY?
GDV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GDV and SPY?
At least 79.4% of SPY's money is in holdings GDV also owns. Our book for GDV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 221 positions in common, counted across the 677 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDV or SPY?
GDV yields 5.23% while SPY yields 1.01%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GDV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.