GAST vs USMC
Gabelli Automation ETF vs Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF
Which is better, GAST or USMC?
Each has led over a different period.
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y, USMC over the full window. GAST is less concentrated, with 44.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%.
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 | GAST | USMC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.12% |
| AUM | $5M | $5.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.63% | 0.74% |
| Holdings | 49 | 58 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -23.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $13,182 | $16,285Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.1%Best | 55.3% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 5, 2022 | Oct 11, 2017 |
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 USMC 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: Jan 5, 2022 to Dec 12, 2025 (3.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GAST has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.7% for USMC. 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 -23.6% for GAST and -23.1% for USMC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GAST charges 0.00% per year while USMC charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $12 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GAST currently yields 0.63% against 0.74% for USMC.
Holdings Overlap
5.0% of GAST's money is in holdings USMC also owns. 9.1% of USMC's money is in holdings GAST also owns.
USMC and GAST share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 349 days apart, GAST as of Sep 30, 2025 and USMC as of Sep 14, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 27 in USMC, against full books of 49 and 58.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 25 positions for USMC that do not appear in our book for GAST (90.9% of the fund), and 40 for GAST that do not appear in USMC (79.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GAST and USMC 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 USMC?
GAST has an expense ratio of 0.00% while USMC charges 0.12%. GAST is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, GAST or USMC?
GAST has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.7% for USMC. Worst drawdown: GAST -23.6% vs USMC -23.1%.
Should I hold both GAST and USMC?
GAST and USMC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 USMC?
9.1% of USMC's money is in holdings GAST also owns. 9.1% of USMC's is in holdings GAST also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in GAST and 27 in USMC.
Which pays a higher dividend, GAST or USMC?
GAST yields 0.63% while USMC yields 0.74%, so USMC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USMC better than GAST?
GAST has a lower expense ratio. GAST led over 1Y, USMC over the full window. GAST is less concentrated, with 44.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.