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IWD vs. GLD: What’s The Difference?

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) and the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. IWD is a iShares Large Value fund and GLD is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors N/A fund. So, what’s the difference between IWD and GLD? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of IWD is 0.21 percentage points lower than GLD’s (0.19% vs. 0.4%). IWD also has a higher exposure to the financial services sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, IWD has provided higher returns than GLD over the past ten years.

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

Summary

IWDGLD
NameiShares Russell 1000 Value ETFSPDR Gold Shares
CategoryLarge ValueN/A
IssueriSharesSPDR State Street Global Advisors
AUM54.1B59.26B
Avg. Return11.40%5.81%
Div. Yield1.57%0.0%
Expense Ratio0.19%0.4%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) is a Large Value fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 54.1B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 11.40% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.57% with an expense ratio of 0.19%.

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%.

IWD’s dividend yield is 1.57% higher than that of GLD (1.57% vs. 0.0%). Also, IWD yielded on average 5.59% more per year over the past decade (11.40% vs. 5.81%). The expense ratio of IWD is 0.21 percentage points lower than GLD’s (0.19% vs. 0.4%).

Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

IWD vs. GLD - Industry Exposure

IWDGLD
Technology10.28%0.0%
Industrials11.77%0.0%
Energy4.76%0.0%
Communication Services8.67%0.0%
Utilities4.88%0.0%
Healthcare17.78%0.0%
Consumer Defensive7.76%0.0%
Real Estate4.94%0.0%
Financial Services20.43%0.0%
Consumer Cyclical5.62%0.0%
Basic Materials3.1%0.0%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 20.43%. This is followed by Healthcare and Industrials at 17.78% and 11.77% respectively. Energy (4.76%), Utilities (4.88%), and Real Estate (4.94%) only make up 14.58% of the fund’s total assets.

IWD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Communication Services, Technology, and Industrials stocks at 5.62%, 7.76%, 8.67%, 10.28%, and 11.77%.

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%.

IWD is 20.43% more exposed to the Financial Services sector than GLD (20.43% vs 0.0%). IWD’s exposure to Healthcare and Industrials stocks is 17.78% higher and 11.77% higher respectively (17.78% vs. 0.0% and 11.77% vs. 0.0%). In total, Energy, Utilities, and Real Estate also make up 14.58% more of the fund’s holdings compared to GLD (14.58% vs. 0.00%).

Holdings

IWD - Holdings

IWD HoldingsWeight
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B2.58%
JPMorgan Chase & Co2.25%
Johnson & Johnson2.24%
UnitedHealth Group Inc1.78%
Procter & Gamble Co1.71%
The Walt Disney Co1.5%
Bank of America Corp1.43%
Comcast Corp Class A1.33%
Exxon Mobil Corp1.2%
Pfizer Inc1.18%

IWD’s Top Holdings are Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group Inc, and Procter & Gamble Co at 2.58%, 2.25%, 2.24%, 1.78%, and 1.71%.

The Walt Disney Co (1.5%), Bank of America Corp (1.43%), and Comcast Corp Class A (1.33%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Exxon Mobil Corp and Pfizer Inc are also represented in the IWD’s holdings at 1.2% and 1.18%.

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%.

Risk Analysis

IWDGLD
Mean Return1.030.21
R-squared92.3816.21
Std. Deviation14.3516.58
Alpha-3.233.91
Beta1.020.48
Sharpe Ratio0.810.12
Treynor Ratio11.061.21

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has a Alpha of -3.23 with a Beta of 1.02 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.81. Its R-squared is 92.38 while IWD’s Treynor Ratio is 11.06. Furthermore, the fund has a Standard Deviation of 14.35 and a Mean Return of 1.03.

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

IWD’s Mean Return is 0.82 points higher than that of GLD and its R-squared is 76.17 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 14.35, IWD is slightly less volatile than GLD. The Alpha and Beta of IWD are 7.14 points lower and 0.54 points higher than GLD’s Alpha and Beta.

Performance

Annual Returns

IWD vs. GLD - Annual Returns

YearIWDGLD
20202.67%23.68%
201926.34%18.36%
2018-8.4%-1.54%
201713.47%11.41%
201617.09%8.69%
2015-3.95%-11.78%
201413.21%-0.58%
201332.18%-28.09%
201217.28%5.26%
20110.21%11.2%
201015.3%27.25%

IWD had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.18%. IWD’s worst year over the past decade yielded -8.4% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2017, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 13.21%, 13.47%, and 15.3% respectively.

The year 2010 was the strongest year for GLD, returning 27.25% on an annual basis. The poorest year for GLD in the last ten years was 2013, with a yield of -28.09%. Most years the SPDR Gold Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2012, 2016, and 2011, when gains were 5.26%, 8.69%, and 11.2% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

IWD vs. GLD - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
IWD$10,000$30,74611.40%
GLD$10,000$16,3955.81%

A $10,000 investment in IWD would have resulted in a final balance of $30,746. This is a profit of $20,746 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.40%.

With a $10,000 investment in GLD, the end total would have been $16,395. This equates to a $6,395 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81%.

IWD’s CAGR is 5.59 percentage points higher than that of GLD and as a result, would have yielded $14,351 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, IWD outperformed GLD by 5.59% annually.


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