The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. GLD is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors N/A fund and IWS is a iShares Mid-Cap Value fund. So, what’s the difference between GLD and IWS? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of GLD is 0.17 percentage points higher than IWS’s (0.4% vs. 0.23%). GLD also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, GLD has provided lower returns than IWS over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare GLD vs. IWS. We’ll look at holdings and risk metrics, as well as at their performance and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss GLD’s and IWS’s fund composition, portfolio growth, and industry exposure and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| GLD | IWS | |
| Name | SPDR Gold Shares | iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF |
| Category | N/A | Mid-Cap Value |
| Issuer | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | iShares |
| AUM | 59.26B | 14.24B |
| Avg. Return | 5.81% | 12.35% |
| Div. Yield | 0.0% | 1.34% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.4% | 0.23% |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is a N/A fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 59.26B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 5.81% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.0% with an expense ratio of 0.4%.
The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) is a Mid-Cap Value fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 14.24B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 12.35% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.34% with an expense ratio of 0.23%.
GLD’s dividend yield is 1.34% lower than that of IWS (0.0% vs. 1.34%). Also, GLD yielded on average 6.54% less per year over the past decade (5.81% vs. 12.35%). The expense ratio of GLD is 0.17 percentage points higher than IWS’s (0.4% vs. 0.23%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| GLD | IWS | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 11.39% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 14.6% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 4.71% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 4.08% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 6.97% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 8.56% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 4.76% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 11.71% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 15.75% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 12.07% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 5.4% |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 0.0%. This is followed by Industrials and Energy at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
GLD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, and Energy stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 15.75%. This is followed by Industrials and Consumer Cyclical at 14.6% and 12.07% respectively. Energy (4.71%), Consumer Defensive (4.76%), and Basic Materials (5.4%) only make up 14.87% of the fund’s total assets.
IWS’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Utilities, Healthcare, Technology, Real Estate, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 6.97%, 8.56%, 11.39%, 11.71%, and 12.07%.
GLD is 11.39% less exposed to the Technology sector than IWS (0.0% vs 11.39%). GLD’s exposure to Industrials and Energy stocks is 14.60% lower and 4.71% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 14.6% and 0.0% vs. 4.71%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Real Estate also make up 39.53% less of the fund’s holdings compared to IWS (0.00% vs. 39.53%).
Holdings
| GLD Holdings | Weight |
| Gold Trust | 100.0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
| N/A | 0% |
GLD’s Top Holdings are Gold Trust, N/A, N/A, N/A, and N/A at 100.0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, and 0%.
N/A (0%), N/A (0%), and N/A (0%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. N/A and N/A are also represented in the GLD’s holdings at 0% and 0%.
| IWS Holdings | Weight |
| Twitter Inc | 0.69% |
| Marvell Technology Inc | 0.69% |
| IHS Markit Ltd | 0.62% |
| Prudential Financial Inc | 0.56% |
| Otis Worldwide Corp Ordinary Shares | 0.54% |
| International Flavors & Fragrances Inc | 0.53% |
| Xcel Energy Inc | 0.52% |
| Motorola Solutions Inc | 0.52% |
| Aptiv PLC | 0.52% |
| Aflac Inc | 0.52% |
IWS’s Top Holdings are Twitter Inc, Marvell Technology Inc, IHS Markit Ltd, Prudential Financial Inc, and Otis Worldwide Corp Ordinary Shares at 0.69%, 0.69%, 0.62%, 0.56%, and 0.54%.
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (0.53%), Xcel Energy Inc (0.52%), and Motorola Solutions Inc (0.52%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Aptiv PLC and Aflac Inc are also represented in the IWS’s holdings at 0.52% and 0.52%.
Risk Analysis
| GLD | IWS | |
| Mean Return | 0.21 | 1.06 |
| R-squared | 16.21 | 87.04 |
| Std. Deviation | 16.58 | 16.03 |
| Alpha | 3.91 | -4.11 |
| Beta | 0.48 | 1.1 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.12 | 0.75 |
| Treynor Ratio | 1.21 | 10.3 |
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a Sharpe Ratio of 0.12 with a Alpha of 3.91 and a Beta of 0.48. Its Standard Deviation is 16.58 while GLD’s R-squared is 16.21. Furthermore, the fund has a Mean Return of 0.21 and a Treynor Ratio of 1.21.
The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) has a Standard Deviation of 16.03 with a Sharpe Ratio of 0.75 and a Beta of 1.1. Its Treynor Ratio is 10.3 while IWS’s Mean Return is 1.06. Furthermore, the fund has a R-squared of 87.04 and a Alpha of -4.11.
GLD’s Mean Return is 0.85 points lower than that of IWS and its R-squared is 70.83 points lower. With a Standard Deviation of 16.58, GLD is slightly more volatile than IWS. The Alpha and Beta of GLD are 8.02 points higher and 0.62 points lower than IWS’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | GLD | IWS |
| 2020 | 23.68% | 4.76% |
| 2019 | 18.36% | 26.78% |
| 2018 | -1.54% | -12.36% |
| 2017 | 11.41% | 13.1% |
| 2016 | 8.69% | 19.69% |
| 2015 | -11.78% | -4.93% |
| 2014 | -0.58% | 14.49% |
| 2013 | -28.09% | 33.11% |
| 2012 | 5.26% | 18.27% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | -1.55% |
| 2010 | 27.25% | 24.46% |
GLD had its best year in 2010 with an annual return of 27.25%. GLD’s worst year over the past decade yielded -28.09% and occurred in 2013. In most years the SPDR Gold Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2012, 2016, and 2011 where annual returns amounted to 5.26%, 8.69%, and 11.2% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for IWS, returning 33.11% on an annual basis. The poorest year for IWS in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -12.36%. Most years the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2017, 2014, and 2012, when gains were 13.1%, 14.49%, and 18.27% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| GLD | $10,000 | $16,395 | 5.81% |
| IWS | $10,000 | $33,083 | 12.35% |
A $10,000 investment in GLD would have resulted in a final balance of $16,395. This is a profit of $6,395 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81%.
With a $10,000 investment in IWS, the end total would have been $33,083. This equates to a $23,083 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.35%.
GLD’s CAGR is 6.54 percentage points lower than that of IWS and as a result, would have yielded $16,688 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, GLD performed worse than IWS by 6.54% annually.
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