GUT vs SPY
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GUT or SPY?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GUT led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y 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 | GUT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.06% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $317M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.70% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 204 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.04%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +20.70%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.92% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.94% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,726 | $18,205Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 1999 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 12, 1999 to Sep 10, 2026 (27.2 years).
GUT 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.
GUT vs SPY Performance
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) (GUT) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GUT returned +20.70% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, GUT is up 15.04% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, GUT compounded at +9.92% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.94% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 27-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.71% annualized vs +0.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 15.1% 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 -57.6% for GUT and -56.5% 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUT charges 2.06% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $206 vs $9 annually, a gap of $197 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUT currently yields 19.70% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.9% of SPY's money is in holdings GUT also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GUT, our book for it lists positions totalling 112.8% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and GUT share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, GUT as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
49 positions in common, counted across the 193 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 204 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 5.28% | 0.27% | 5.01% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 4.29% | 0.08% | 4.21% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 4.20% | 0.05% | 4.15% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.56% | 0.07% | 3.49% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 3.43% | 0.03% | 3.40% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.90% | 0.15% | 2.75% |
| ESEversource Energy | 2.49% | 0.04% | 2.45% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.09% | 0.10% | 1.99% |
| CMSCms Energy Corp. | 2.11% | 0.03% | 2.08% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 1.92% | 0.03% | 1.89% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUT 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, GUT or SPY?
GUT has an expense ratio of 2.06% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $197 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUT or SPY?
Over the past year GUT returned +20.70% vs +17.48% for SPY, so GUT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (27 years), GUT annualized +0.89% vs +6.71% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUT or SPY?
GUT has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GUT -57.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both GUT and SPY?
GUT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GUT and SPY?
At least 5.9% of SPY's money is in holdings GUT also owns. Our book for GUT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 193 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUT or SPY?
GUT yields 19.70% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GUT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GUT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GUT led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.