Skip to content

GLD vs. VV: What’s The Difference?

The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and the Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. GLD is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors N/A fund and VV is a Vanguard Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between GLD and VV? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of GLD is 0.36 percentage points higher than VV’s (0.4% vs. 0.04%). GLD also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, GLD has provided lower returns than VV over the past ten years.

In this article, we’ll compare GLD vs. VV. We’ll look at fund composition and annual returns, as well as at their risk metrics and holdings. Moreover, I’ll also discuss GLD’s and VV’s industry exposure, portfolio growth, and performance and examine how these affect their overall returns.

Summary

GLDVV
NameSPDR Gold SharesVanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares
CategoryN/ALarge Blend
IssuerSPDR State Street Global AdvisorsVanguard
AUM59.26B37.65B
Avg. Return5.81%14.75%
Div. Yield0.0%1.26%
Expense Ratio0.4%0.04%

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 Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) is a Large Blend fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 37.65B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.75% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.26% with an expense ratio of 0.04%.

GLD’s dividend yield is 1.26% lower than that of VV (0.0% vs. 1.26%). Also, GLD yielded on average 8.94% less per year over the past decade (5.81% vs. 14.75%). The expense ratio of GLD is 0.36 percentage points higher than VV’s (0.4% vs. 0.04%).

Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

GLD vs. VV - Industry Exposure

GLDVV
Technology0.0%25.38%
Industrials0.0%8.39%
Energy0.0%2.62%
Communication Services0.0%11.68%
Utilities0.0%2.35%
Healthcare0.0%13.22%
Consumer Defensive0.0%6.06%
Real Estate0.0%2.7%
Financial Services0.0%13.82%
Consumer Cyclical0.0%11.65%
Basic Materials0.0%2.13%

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 Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 25.38%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 13.82% and 13.22% respectively. Utilities (2.35%), Energy (2.62%), and Real Estate (2.7%) only make up 7.67% of the fund’s total assets.

VV’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Consumer Cyclical, Communication Services, and Healthcare stocks at 6.06%, 8.39%, 11.65%, 11.68%, and 13.22%.

GLD is 25.38% less exposed to the Technology sector than VV (0.0% vs 25.38%). GLD’s exposure to Industrials and Energy stocks is 8.39% lower and 2.62% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 8.39% and 0.0% vs. 2.62%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Real Estate also make up 28.17% less of the fund’s holdings compared to VV (0.00% vs. 28.17%).

Holdings

GLD - Holdings

GLD HoldingsWeight
Gold Trust100.0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%
N/A0%

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%.

VV - Holdings

VV HoldingsWeight
Apple Inc5.7%
Microsoft Corp5.35%
Amazon.com Inc3.87%
Facebook Inc Class A2.19%
Alphabet Inc Class A1.93%
Alphabet Inc Class C1.81%
Tesla Inc1.37%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B1.3%
NVIDIA Corp1.24%
JPMorgan Chase & Co1.24%

VV’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 5.7%, 5.35%, 3.87%, 2.19%, and 1.93%.

Alphabet Inc Class C (1.81%), Tesla Inc (1.37%), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (1.3%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. NVIDIA Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co are also represented in the VV’s holdings at 1.24% and 1.24%.

Risk Analysis

GLDVV
Mean Return0.211.24
R-squared16.2199.86
Std. Deviation16.5813.75
Alpha3.91-0.08
Beta0.481.01
Sharpe Ratio0.121.04
Treynor Ratio1.2114.14

The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has a Treynor Ratio of 1.21 with a Alpha of 3.91 and a R-squared of 16.21. Its Mean Return is 0.21 while GLD’s Sharpe Ratio is 0.12. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 0.48 and a Standard Deviation of 16.58.

The Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) has a Standard Deviation of 13.75 with a Alpha of -0.08 and a R-squared of 99.86. Its Mean Return is 1.24 while VV’s Sharpe Ratio is 1.04. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 1.01 and a Treynor Ratio of 14.14.

GLD’s Mean Return is 1.03 points lower than that of VV and its R-squared is 83.65 points lower. With a Standard Deviation of 16.58, GLD is slightly more volatile than VV. The Alpha and Beta of GLD are 3.99 points higher and 0.53 points lower than VV’s Alpha and Beta.

Performance

Annual Returns

GLD vs. VV - Annual Returns

YearGLDVV
202023.68%20.99%
201918.36%31.39%
2018-1.54%-4.44%
201711.41%22.03%
20168.69%11.65%
2015-11.78%1.07%
2014-0.58%13.39%
2013-28.09%32.65%
20125.26%16.09%
201111.2%1.58%
201027.25%15.81%

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 VV, returning 32.65% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VV in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -4.44%. Most years the Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012, when gains were 13.39%, 15.81%, and 16.09% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

GLD vs. VV - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
GLD$10,000$16,3955.81%
VV$10,000$42,97014.75%

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 VV, the end total would have been $42,970. This equates to a $32,970 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.75%.

GLD’s CAGR is 8.94 percentage points lower than that of VV and as a result, would have yielded $26,575 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, GLD performed worse than VV by 8.94% annually.


Current recommendations:

Over the past years, I have discovered several tools and products that have helped me tremendously on my path to financial freedom:

P.S.: The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you sign up for one of the services. Thank you for your support!

1)Personal Capital is simply the best tool out there to track your net worth and plan for financial freedom. Just their retirement planner alone has become an invaluable tool to keep myself on track financially. Try it out, it's free!

2) Take a look at M1 Finance, my favorite broker. I love how easy it is to invest and maintain my portfolio with them. I can set up automatic transfers, rebalance my portfolio with one click and even borrow up to 35% of my assets at super low interest rates!

3) Fundrise is by far the best way I've found to invest in Real Estate. You can diversify your portfolio by investing in their eREITs or even allocate capital to individual properties (without the hassle of managing tenants!).

4) Groundfloor is another great way to get exposure to the real estate sector by investing in short-term, high-yield real estate debt. Current returns are >10% and you can get started with just $10.

5) If you are interested in startup investing, check out Mainvest. I've started allocating a small amount of assets to invest in and support small businesses. Return targets are between 10-25% and you can start with just $100!

To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out the Recommended Tools section.

9125d72911bdc1f2dd2d1918a15aaf4c?s=250&d=mm&r=g

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *