GGRW vs SPY
Gabelli Growth Innovators ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GGRW or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
GGRW has a lower expense ratio. GGRW led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%.
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 | GGRW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $8M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.40% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 43 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.59% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.78% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.11%Best | +21.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.31% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.5% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -50.3% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,579 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 16, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 16, 2021 to Sep 14, 2026 (5.6 years).
GGRW 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
GGRW vs SPY Performance
Gabelli Growth Innovators ETF (GGRW) 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 GGRW returned +3.78% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, GGRW is up 3.59% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, GGRW compounded at +24.11% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.31% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.13% annualized vs +7.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GGRW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 15.2% 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 -50.3% for GGRW 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GGRW charges 0.00% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GGRW currently yields 0.40% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.3% of GGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.3% of SPY's money is in holdings GGRW also owns.
Most of GGRW is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in GGRW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 43 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 459 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GGRW (54.0% of the fund), and 2 for GGRW that do not appear in SPY (1.9%).
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 GGRW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 9.98% | 8.01% | 1.97% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.63% | 7.26% | 3.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.32% | 5.66% | 1.34% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.96% | 3.79% | 2.17% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 5.95% | 2.39% | 3.56% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.87% | 2.66% | 1.21% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.66% | 1.93% | 1.73% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.12% | 1.40% | 2.72% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.48% | 0.71% | 2.77% |
| GEVGE Vernova Inc. CDR (CAD Hedged) | 3.73% | 0.37% | 3.36% |
95.3% of GGRW 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, GGRW or SPY?
GGRW has an expense ratio of 0.00% while SPY charges 0.09%. GGRW is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GGRW or SPY?
Over the past year GGRW returned +3.78% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), GGRW annualized +7.02% vs +14.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GGRW or SPY?
GGRW has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GGRW -50.3% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both GGRW and SPY?
GGRW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 GGRW and SPY?
95.3% of GGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.3% of SPY's is in holdings GGRW also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in GGRW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GGRW or SPY?
GGRW yields 0.40% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GGRW?
GGRW has a lower expense ratio. GGRW led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.