GFGF vs SPY
Guru Favorite Stocks ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GFGF or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.1%.
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 | GFGF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $33M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.20% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 29 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.38% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.63% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.14% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.0% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $14,728 | $17,503Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.1% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | GuruFocus Investments, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 15, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 16, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.8 years).
GFGF 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
GFGF vs SPY Performance
Guru Favorite Stocks ETF (GFGF) is an ETF from GuruFocus Investments, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GFGF returned +7.63% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, GFGF is up 2.38% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, GFGF compounded at +17.14% per year against +21.20% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GFGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 15.8% 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 -28.0% for GFGF 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GFGF charges 0.66% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $9 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GFGF currently yields 0.20% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.5% of GFGF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 39.0% of SPY's money is in holdings GFGF also owns.
Most of GFGF is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in GFGF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 29 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 472 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GFGF (60.3% of the fund), and 3 for GFGF that do not appear in SPY (9.0%).
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 GFGF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 8.74% | 5.66% | 3.08% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.48% | 8.01% | 3.53% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.30% | 7.26% | 2.96% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.79% | 2.99% | 1.80% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.38% | 3.79% | 0.41% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.98% | 1.40% | 2.58% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 3.85% | 1.40% | 2.45% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.15% | 0.94% | 3.21% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group, Inc. | 4.08% | 0.55% | 3.53% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.10% | 2.39% | 0.29% |
82.5% of GFGF 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, GFGF or SPY?
GFGF has an expense ratio of 0.66% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GFGF or SPY?
Over the past year GFGF returned +7.63% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GFGF or SPY?
GFGF has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GFGF -28.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both GFGF and SPY?
GFGF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 GFGF and SPY?
82.5% of GFGF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 39.0% of SPY's is in holdings GFGF also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in GFGF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GFGF or SPY?
GFGF yields 0.20% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GFGF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.