GSSC vs SPY
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GSSC or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 4.6% 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 | GSSC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.05% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,422 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.17%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +15.62% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.09% | +22.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.47% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.5% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,336 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 4.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2017 to Sep 23, 2026 (9.2 years).
GSSC 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 9.2 years both funds cover.
GSSC vs SPY Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Small Cap Equity ETF (GSSC) 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 GSSC returned +15.62% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, GSSC is up 15.17% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, GSSC compounded at +17.09% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.47% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.26% annualized vs +9.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GSSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 15.9% 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 -42.5% for GSSC 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSSC charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSSC currently yields 1.05% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,411 holdings in GSSC and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.6% and 99.9% of the two funds. That is not enough of SPY to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,411 positions we hold weights for in GSSC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,422 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GSSC (99.3% of the fund), and 1,343 for GSSC that do not appear in SPY (94.6%).
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 GSSC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOSAo Smith Corp. | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GSSC 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, GSSC or SPY?
GSSC has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSSC or SPY?
Over the past year GSSC returned +15.62% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GSSC annualized +9.46% vs +14.26% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSSC or SPY?
GSSC has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 15.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GSSC -42.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both GSSC and SPY?
GSSC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, GSSC or SPY?
GSSC yields 1.05% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GSSC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GSSC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSSC is less concentrated, with 4.6% 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.