GLDB vs SPY

GLDB vs SPY

Which is better, GLDB or SPY?

Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns (1Y): SPY

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

MetricGLDBSPY
Expense Ratio0.95%0.09%Best
AUM$38M$811.2B
Dividend Yield4.66%0.98%
Holdings101,515
YTD Return-8.75%+12.70%Best
1Y Return-10.12%+15.53%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+22.86%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.47%
Volatility (annualized)31.3%13.2%Best
Fund FamilyIDX FundsState Street Investment Management
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleMulti AlternativeLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 23, 2025Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

GLDB 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 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.

GLDB vs SPY Performance

IDX Alternative FIAT ETF (GLDB) is an ETF from IDX Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GLDB returned -10.12% while SPY returned +15.53%. Year to date, GLDB is down 8.75% versus a gain of 12.70% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

GLDB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.3% compared with 13.2% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

GLDB charges 0.95% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $9 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GLDB currently yields 4.66% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 5 holdings in GLDB and 504 in SPY, totalling 65.8% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 5 positions we hold weights for in GLDB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 10 and 1,515.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of GLDB and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

GLDBSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GLDB or SPY?

GLDB has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, GLDB or SPY?

Over the past year GLDB returned -10.12% vs +15.53% 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, GLDB or SPY?

GLDB has been the more volatile fund at 31.3% annualized versus 13.2% for SPY.

Should I hold both GLDB and SPY?

GLDB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, GLDB or SPY?

GLDB yields 4.66% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GLDB currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than GLDB?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.