GOLI vs SPY
Defiance Gold Enhanced Options Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GOLI or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | GOLI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.04% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $24M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 45.55% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 18 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -3.84% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.34% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.9% | -12.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,482 | $13,795Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 1, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 2, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.5 years).
GOLI 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
GOLI vs SPY Performance
Defiance Gold Enhanced Options Income ETF (GOLI) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GOLI returned +4.34% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, GOLI is down 3.84% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GOLI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 12.2% 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 -25.9% for GOLI and -12.1% 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GOLI charges 1.04% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $104 vs $9 annually, a gap of $95 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GOLI currently yields 45.55% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in GOLI and 504 in SPY, totalling 31.3% and 99.9% 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 2 positions we hold weights for in GOLI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 18 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GOLI 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, GOLI or SPY?
GOLI has an expense ratio of 1.04% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $95 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GOLI or SPY?
Over the past year GOLI returned +4.34% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), GOLI annualized +15.93% vs +23.92% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GOLI or SPY?
GOLI has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 12.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GOLI -25.9% vs SPY -12.1%.
Should I hold both GOLI and SPY?
GOLI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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, GOLI or SPY?
GOLI yields 45.55% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GOLI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GOLI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.