ACIO vs GAB
Aptus Collared Investment Opportunity ETF vs Gabelli Equity Trust
Which is better, ACIO or GAB?
ACIO has been ahead.
ACIO has a lower expense ratio. ACIO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ACIO | GAB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79%Best | 1.50% |
| AUM | $2.4B | $2.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.39% | 10.96% |
| Holdings | 524 | 682 |
| YTD Return | +8.01%Best | -8.60% |
| 1Y Return | +8.79%Best | -4.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.63%Best | +12.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.74%Best | +4.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 19.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.9%Best | -49.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,916Best | $12,690 |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Gabelli Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 2019 | Aug 21, 1986 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 10, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.3 years).
ACIO vs GAB growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 7.3 years both funds cover.
ACIO vs GAB Performance
Aptus Collared Investment Opportunity ETF (ACIO) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds. Over the past year ACIO returned +8.79% while GAB returned -4.60%. Year to date, ACIO is up 8.01% versus a loss of 8.60% for GAB.
Over three years, ACIO compounded at +15.63% per year against +12.18% for GAB; over five years the annualized figures are +9.74% and +4.88% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, ACIO has the edge at +9.65% annualized vs +5.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GAB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 10.0% for ACIO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -14.9% for ACIO and -49.1% for GAB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACIO charges 0.79% per year while GAB charges 1.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $150 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACIO currently yields 0.39% against 10.96% for GAB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 78.5% of ACIO's money is in holdings GAB also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GAB, our book for it lists positions totalling 115.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
Most of ACIO is already inside GAB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 184 days apart, ACIO as of Oct 1, 2026 and GAB as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
103 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in ACIO and 655 in GAB, against full books of 524 and 682.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ACIO | Weight in GAB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 0.08% | 8.36% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 0.09% | 7.17% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.75% | 0.15% | 5.60% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 5.39% | 0.47% | 4.92% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.69% | 0.13% | 3.56% |
| DEDeere & Co Sedol 2261203 | 0.26% | 3.16% | 2.90% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 0.25% | 2.66% | 2.41% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.42% | 0.37% | 2.05% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.46% | 0.10% | 2.36% |
| ORLYO'Eilly Automotive, Inc. | 0.14% | 2.19% | 2.05% |
78.5% of ACIO is already inside GAB.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACIO or GAB?
ACIO has an expense ratio of 0.79% while GAB charges 1.50%. ACIO is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACIO or GAB?
Over the past year ACIO returned +8.79% vs -4.60% for GAB, so ACIO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), ACIO annualized +9.65% vs +5.65% for GAB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACIO or GAB?
GAB has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 10.0% for ACIO. Worst drawdown: ACIO -14.9% vs GAB -49.1%.
Should I hold both ACIO and GAB?
ACIO and GAB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACIO and GAB?
At least 78.5% of ACIO's money is in holdings GAB also owns. Our book for GAB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 103 positions in common, counted across the 167 positions we hold weights for in ACIO and 655 in GAB.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACIO or GAB?
ACIO yields 0.39% while GAB yields 10.96%, so GAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GAB better than ACIO?
ACIO has a lower expense ratio. ACIO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.