GLD vs VTI
SPDR Gold Shares vs Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-02
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.40%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares (VTI) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to the total U.S. stock market across all capitalizations. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.17%. Launched in 2001, the fund has a 25-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VTI is significantly cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.40% expense ratio, saving you approximately $727 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, GLD has significantly outperformed with a 52.3% return vs 17.2%. Income investors may prefer VTI for its higher yield (1.2% vs 0.0%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
VTI Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 6.17% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 5.89% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 4.40% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 3.05% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.28% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 2.16% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 2.13% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 1.72% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc.BRK.B | 1.37% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VTI if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose GLD if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose VTI if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.