ETF Versus

GLD vs VTV

SPDR Gold Shares vs Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares

Last updated: 2026-04-02

GLD State Street

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.

AUM: $151.9B ER: 0.40% Yield: 0.00% Since: Nov 18, 2004
VTV Vanguard

Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares (VTV) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. value stocks trading at below-market valuations. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.02%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.

AUM: $162.0B ER: 0.03% Yield: 2.02% Since: Jan 26, 2004

Quick Verdict

VTV 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 14.1%. Income investors may prefer VTV for its higher yield (2.0% vs 0.0%).

Key Metrics

Metric GLD VTV
Expense Ratio 0.40% 0.03%
Dividend Yield 0.0% 2.0%
Fund Family State Street Vanguard
Category Gold US Large Cap Value

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

90 131 172 213 254 295 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
GLD +170.4%
VTV +47.7%

Performance Comparison

Period GLD VTV Difference
1 Month -10.65% -4.90% -5.75%
3 Months +9.93% +2.00% +7.93%
6 Months +22.42% +4.87% +17.55%
YTD +9.93% +2.00% +7.93%
1 Year +52.25% +14.12% +38.13%
3 Years +137.25% +41.26% +95.99%
5 Years +170.39% +47.66% +122.73%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period GLD Fees VTV Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $786 $60 $727
$10.000 20 years $3.334 $258 $3.075
$10.000 30 years $10.601 $835 $9.765
$50.000 10 years $3.932 $299 $3.633
$50.000 30 years $53.003 $4.176 $48.827
$100.000 30 years $106.005 $8.352 $97.653

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric GLD VTV
Annualized Volatility 17.8% 13.9%
Max Drawdown -21.0% -18.1%
Sharpe Ratio 0.96 0.31

Dividend Comparison

Metric GLD VTV
Annual Dividend (per share) $0.00 $3.97
Dividend Yield 0.00% 2.02%
Distribution Frequency None Quarterly

Top Holdings

VTV Top Holdings

NameWeight
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.BRK.B3.07%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM2.98%
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM2.50%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ2.33%
Walmart Inc.WMT2.18%
Micron Technology, Inc.MU1.81%
AbbVie Inc.ABBV1.60%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG1.52%
The Home Depot, Inc.HD1.47%
Chevron CorporationCVX1.39%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose VTV 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 VTV if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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