GK vs SPY
AdvisorShares Gerber Kawasaki ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GK or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%.
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 | GK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.77% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $31M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.07% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 31 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.97% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.99% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.53% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.00% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.2% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.7% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,041 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Advisor Shares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 1, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.2 years).
GK 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
GK vs SPY Performance
AdvisorShares Gerber Kawasaki ETF (GK) is an ETF from Advisor Shares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GK returned +7.99% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, GK is up 9.97% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, GK compounded at +18.53% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.00% and +12.53% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.2% compared with 15.7% 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 -47.7% for GK 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GK charges 0.77% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $77 vs $9 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GK currently yields 0.07% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
79.4% of GK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 36.5% of SPY's money is in holdings GK also owns.
Most of GK is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
20 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in GK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 31 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GK (62.8% of the fund), and 8 for GK that do not appear in SPY (19.3%).
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 GK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.83% | 8.01% | 0.18% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.03% | 7.26% | 2.23% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.22% | 5.66% | 0.44% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 9.05% | 1.60% | 7.45% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 8.25% | 2.39% | 5.86% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 7.50% | 1.40% | 6.10% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.02% | 2.66% | 2.36% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.83% | 3.79% | 0.04% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 4.70% | 0.52% | 4.18% |
| TTTt Trane Technologies Plc | 4.27% | 0.15% | 4.12% |
79.4% of GK 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, GK or SPY?
GK has an expense ratio of 0.77% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GK or SPY?
Over the past year GK returned +7.99% vs +15.52% 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, GK or SPY?
GK has been the more volatile fund at 23.2% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GK -47.7% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both GK and SPY?
GK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 GK and SPY?
79.4% of GK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 36.5% of SPY's is in holdings GK also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in GK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GK or SPY?
GK yields 0.07% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.