GSEW vs SPY
Goldman Sachs Equal Weight US Large Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GSEW or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. GSEW is less concentrated, with 3.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | GSEW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Tie | 0.09%Tie |
| AUM | $2.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.34% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 500 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.59% | +11.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.53% | +15.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.77% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.98% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,680 | $18,093Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 12, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 14, 2017 to Sep 15, 2026 (9 years).
GSEW 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 9 years both funds cover.
GSEW vs SPY Performance
Goldman Sachs Equal Weight US Large Cap Equity ETF (GSEW) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GSEW returned +12.53% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, GSEW is up 10.59% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, GSEW compounded at +16.77% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.98% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.03% annualized vs +11.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GSEW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 16.2% 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 -38.6% for GSEW and -34.1% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSEW charges 0.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually. On income, GSEW currently yields 1.34% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.7% of GSEW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 95.1% of SPY's money is in holdings GSEW also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside GSEW. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
413 positions in common, counted across the 498 positions we hold weights for in GSEW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 500 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 86 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GSEW (4.3% of the fund), and 72 for GSEW that do not appear in SPY (14.6%).
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 GSEW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.20% | 8.01% | 7.81% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.21% | 7.26% | 7.05% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.21% | 5.66% | 5.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.19% | 3.79% | 3.60% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.19% | 2.99% | 2.80% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.18% | 2.66% | 2.48% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.20% | 1.93% | 1.73% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.21% | 1.60% | 1.39% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.23% | 1.52% | 1.29% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.20% | 1.45% | 1.25% |
95.1% of SPY is already inside GSEW.
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, GSEW or SPY?
GSEW has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, GSEW or SPY?
Over the past year GSEW returned +12.53% vs +15.87% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GSEW annualized +11.52% vs +14.03% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSEW or SPY?
GSEW has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 16.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GSEW -38.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both GSEW and SPY?
GSEW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 GSEW and SPY?
95.1% of SPY's money is in holdings GSEW also owns. 95.1% of SPY's is in holdings GSEW also owns. They hold 413 positions in common, counted across the 498 positions we hold weights for in GSEW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GSEW or SPY?
GSEW yields 1.34% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GSEW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GSEW?
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. GSEW is less concentrated, with 3.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.