GUT vs VOO
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, GUT or VOO?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GUT is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $295M | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 20.12% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 215 | 506 |
| YTD Return | +1.09% | +12.75%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.80% | +15.60%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.11% | +22.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.08% | +13.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.4% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,638 | $18,877Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.3%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 1999 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (16.1 years).
GUT vs VOO 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
GUT vs VOO Performance
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) (GUT) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GUT returned +3.80% while VOO returned +15.60%. Year to date, GUT is up 1.09% versus a gain of 12.75% for VOO.
Over three years, GUT compounded at +17.11% per year against +22.95% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +3.08% and +13.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.38% annualized vs +2.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -55.4% for GUT and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUT charges 2.06% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $206 vs $3 annually, a gap of $203 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUT currently yields 20.12% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
45.9% of GUT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 6.1% of VOO's money is in holdings GUT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
50 positions in common, counted across the 196 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 494 in VOO, against full books of 215 and 506.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 437 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for GUT (93.0% of the fund), and 63 for GUT that do not appear in VOO (31.1%).
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 GUT | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.39% | 0.28% | 4.11% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 3.70% | 0.06% | 3.64% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 3.56% | 0.09% | 3.47% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.18% | 0.08% | 3.10% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 3.05% | 0.03% | 3.02% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.55% | 0.15% | 2.40% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.92% | 0.11% | 1.81% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 1.85% | 0.03% | 1.82% |
| ESEversource Energ | 1.84% | 0.04% | 1.80% |
| CMSCms Energy Corp. | 1.83% | 0.03% | 1.80% |
45.9% of GUT is already inside VOO.
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, GUT or VOO?
GUT has an expense ratio of 2.06% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $203 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUT or VOO?
Over the past year GUT returned +3.80% vs +15.60% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GUT annualized +2.54% vs +13.38% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUT or VOO?
GUT has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: GUT -55.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both GUT and VOO?
GUT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 VOO?
45.9% of GUT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 6.1% of VOO's is in holdings GUT also owns. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 196 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUT or VOO?
GUT yields 20.12% while VOO yields 1.04%, so GUT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than GUT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GUT is less concentrated, with 30.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.