GAST vs PWRD
Gabelli Automation ETF vs TCW Transform Systems ETF
Which is better, GAST or PWRD?
Each has led over a different period.
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y, PWRD over the full window. GAST is less concentrated, with 44.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%.
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 | GAST | PWRD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.75% |
| AUM | $5M | $1.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.63% | 0.06% |
| Holdings | 49 | 56 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0%Best | 22.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.5%Best | -25.9% |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $14,318 | $20,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1%Best | 50.6% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | TCW ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2022 | Feb 2, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 306 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. GAST has data through Dec 12, 2025 and PWRD through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 3, 2022 to Dec 12, 2025 (3.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PWRD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.0% compared with 17.0% for GAST. 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 -21.5% for GAST and -25.9% for PWRD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAST charges 0.00% per year while PWRD charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $75 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAST currently yields 0.63% against 0.06% for PWRD.
Holdings Overlap
1.7% of GAST's money is in holdings PWRD also owns. 2.0% of PWRD's money is in holdings GAST also owns.
PWRD and GAST share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 366 days apart, GAST as of Sep 30, 2025 and PWRD as of Oct 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 28 in PWRD, against full books of 49 and 56.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 22 positions for PWRD that do not appear in our book for GAST (81.3% of the fund), and 42 for GAST that do not appear in PWRD (84.3%).
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 GAST | Weight in PWRD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCO:CACameco Corporation Com Npv | 1.69% | 2.00% | 0.31% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GAST and PWRD 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, GAST or PWRD?
GAST has an expense ratio of 0.00% while PWRD charges 0.75%. GAST is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, GAST or PWRD?
PWRD has been the more volatile fund at 22.0% annualized versus 17.0% for GAST. Worst drawdown: GAST -21.5% vs PWRD -25.9%.
Should I hold both GAST and PWRD?
GAST and PWRD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 GAST and PWRD?
2.0% of PWRD's money is in holdings GAST also owns. 2.0% of PWRD's is in holdings GAST also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 28 in PWRD.
Which pays a higher dividend, GAST or PWRD?
GAST yields 0.63% while PWRD yields 0.06%, so GAST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PWRD better than GAST?
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y, PWRD over the full window. GAST is less concentrated, with 44.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.