GURU vs SPY
Global X Guru Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GURU or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GURU led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. GURU is less concentrated, with 14.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | GURU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $62M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.08% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.47% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.59%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.95% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,993 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.3 years).
GURU 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 14.3 years both funds cover.
GURU vs SPY Performance
Global X Guru Index ETF (GURU) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GURU returned +15.47% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, GURU is up 10.62% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, GURU compounded at +22.59% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.95% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.87% annualized vs +12.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GURU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.0% 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 -38.5% for GURU 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GURU charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GURU currently yields 0.08% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
46.0% of GURU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 42.9% of SPY's money is in holdings GURU also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
37 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in GURU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 457 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GURU (56.6% of the fund), and 36 for GURU that do not appear in SPY (45.3%).
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 GURU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.24% | 7.71% | 6.47% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.37% | 6.83% | 5.46% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.34% | 5.50% | 4.16% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.25% | 4.08% | 2.83% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 1.25% | 3.33% | 2.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.21% | 2.97% | 1.76% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.30% | 1.94% | 0.64% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.26% | 1.44% | 0.18% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.18% | 1.51% | 0.33% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.25% | 1.33% | 0.08% |
46.0% of GURU is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GURU or SPY?
GURU has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GURU or SPY?
Over the past year GURU returned +15.47% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), GURU annualized +12.22% vs +13.87% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GURU or SPY?
GURU has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GURU -38.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both GURU and SPY?
GURU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 GURU and SPY?
46.0% of GURU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 42.9% of SPY's is in holdings GURU also owns. They hold 37 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in GURU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GURU or SPY?
GURU yields 0.08% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GURU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GURU led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. GURU is less concentrated, with 14.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.