BAFE vs GDV
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust
Which is better, BAFE or GDV?
Each has led over a different period.
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, GDV over 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 | BAFE | GDV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54%Best | 1.30% |
| AUM | $1.8B | $3.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 5.50% |
| Holdings | 90 | 715 |
| YTD Return | +9.97%Best | +6.53% |
| 1Y Return | +12.65%Best | +11.90% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.57% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +7.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -18.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,035 | $12,861Best |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | Gabelli Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Nov 28, 2003 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
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 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs GDV 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 GDV Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds. Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% while GDV returned +11.90%. Year to date, BAFE is up 9.97% versus a gain of 6.53% for GDV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAFE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 12.6% for GDV. 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 -18.2% for GDV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while GDV charges 1.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $130 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 5.50% for GDV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 73.8% of BAFE's money is in holdings GDV also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for GDV, our book for it lists positions totalling 110.0% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
Most of BAFE is already inside GDV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 184 days apart, BAFE as of Oct 1, 2026 and GDV as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
26 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 678 in GDV, against full books of 90 and 715.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BAFE | Weight in GDV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.49% | 1.41% | 5.08% |
| 2330:TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 7.75% | 0.14% | 7.61% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.73% | 2.40% | 1.33% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.60% | 0.71% | 3.89% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.42% | 0.87% | 3.55% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.54% | 1.67% | 1.87% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.84% | 1.32% | 2.52% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.22% | 0.44% | 3.78% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.72% | 0.27% | 3.45% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 3.11% | 0.77% | 2.34% |
73.8% of BAFE is already inside GDV.
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, BAFE or GDV?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while GDV charges 1.30%. BAFE is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or GDV?
Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% vs +11.90% for GDV, so BAFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.24% vs +14.16% for GDV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or GDV?
BAFE has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 12.6% for GDV. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs GDV -18.2%.
Should I hold both BAFE and GDV?
BAFE and GDV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 GDV?
At least 73.8% of BAFE's money is in holdings GDV also owns. Our book for GDV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 678 in GDV.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or GDV?
BAFE yields 0.27% while GDV yields 5.50%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GDV better than BAFE?
BAFE has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y, GDV over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.