GLDN vs SPY
Nicholas Gold Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GLDN or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 87.8%.
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 | GLDN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $4M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.27% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 46 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -11.28% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Top 10 Weight | 87.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | XFunds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 18, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
GLDN 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.
GLDN vs SPY Performance
Nicholas Gold Income ETF (GLDN) is an ETF from XFunds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, GLDN is down 11.28% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GLDN charges 1.07% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $9 annually, a gap of $98 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GLDN currently yields 7.27% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
4.6% of GLDN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings GLDN also owns.
GLDN and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 14 positions we hold weights for in GLDN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 46 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GLDN (99.3% of the fund), and 5 for GLDN that do not appear in SPY (60.4%).
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 GLDN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 4.61% | 0.16% | 4.45% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GLDN and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GLDN or SPY?
GLDN has an expense ratio of 1.07% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $98 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between GLDN and SPY?
4.6% of GLDN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's is in holdings GLDN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 14 positions we hold weights for in GLDN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GLDN or SPY?
GLDN yields 7.27% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GLDN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GLDN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 87.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.