BAFE vs GCAD
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund
Which is better, BAFE or GCAD?
Each has led over a different period.
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, GCAD over the full window. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | BAFE | GCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.00%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $43M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 1.98% |
| Holdings | 90 | 55 |
| YTD Return | +10.99%Best | +1.59% |
| 1Y Return | +13.45%Best | +8.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +28.70% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 18.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -17.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,143 | $14,441Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.4%Best | 49.3% |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | Gabelli Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Jan 3, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs GCAD 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAFE vs GCAD Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund (GCAD) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds. Over the past year BAFE returned +13.45% while GCAD returned +8.92%. Year to date, BAFE is up 10.99% versus a gain of 1.59% for GCAD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCAD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 13.3% for BAFE. 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 -18.4% for BAFE and -17.5% for GCAD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while GCAD charges 0.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $0 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 1.98% for GCAD.
Holdings Overlap
1.5% of BAFE's money is in holdings GCAD also owns. 1.4% of GCAD's money is in holdings BAFE also owns.
BAFE and GCAD share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 51 in GCAD, against full books of 90 and 55.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 42 positions for GCAD that do not appear in our book for BAFE (89.8% of the fund), and 36 for BAFE that do not appear in GCAD (81.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BAFE | Weight in GCAD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 1.47% | 1.45% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BAFE and GCAD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAFE or GCAD?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while GCAD charges 0.00%. GCAD is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or GCAD?
Over the past year BAFE returned +13.45% vs +8.92% for GCAD, so BAFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.76% vs +21.34% for GCAD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or GCAD?
GCAD has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 13.3% for BAFE. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs GCAD -17.5%.
Should I hold both BAFE and GCAD?
BAFE and GCAD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 BAFE and GCAD?
1.5% of BAFE's money is in holdings GCAD also owns. 1.4% of GCAD's is in holdings BAFE also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 51 in GCAD.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or GCAD?
BAFE yields 0.27% while GCAD yields 1.98%, so GCAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GCAD better than BAFE?
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, GCAD over the full window. BAFE is less concentrated, with 45.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.