GDV vs USMC
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust vs Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF
Which is better, GDV or USMC?
USMC has been ahead.
USMC has a lower expense ratio. USMC 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 | GDV | USMC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.12%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $5.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.50% | 0.74% |
| Holdings | 715 | 58 |
| YTD Return | +6.53% | +13.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.90% | +14.91%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.57% | +22.22%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.80% | +14.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.1% | -30.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,558 | $19,948Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2003 | Oct 11, 2017 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9 years).
GDV vs USMC 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 9 years both funds cover.
GDV vs USMC Performance
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year GDV returned +11.90% while USMC returned +14.91%. Year to date, GDV is up 6.53% versus a gain of 13.98% for USMC.
Over three years, GDV compounded at +20.57% per year against +22.22% for USMC; over five years the annualized figures are +7.80% and +14.81% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, USMC has the edge at +14.29% annualized vs +6.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 15.3% 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 -58.1% for GDV and -30.0% 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDV charges 1.30% per year while USMC charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $12 annually, a gap of $118 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDV currently yields 5.50% against 0.74% for USMC.
Holdings Overlap
At least 99.7% of USMC'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 USMC is already inside GDV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 167 days apart, GDV as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
26 positions in common, counted across the 678 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 27 in USMC, against full books of 715 and 58.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDV | Weight in USMC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.32% | 7.99% | 6.67% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.97% | 7.40% | 6.43% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.24% | 7.18% | 6.94% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.42% | 4.65% | 2.23% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.41% | 5.55% | 4.14% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.40% | 4.32% | 1.92% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 0.27% | 5.33% | 5.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.59% | 4.44% | 3.85% |
| VVisa Inc-class A Shares | 0.44% | 4.54% | 4.10% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.87% | 3.77% | 2.90% |
99.7% of USMC 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, GDV or USMC?
GDV has an expense ratio of 1.30% while USMC charges 0.12%. USMC is the cheaper option, by $118 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDV or USMC?
Over the past year GDV returned +11.90% vs +14.91% for USMC, so USMC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), GDV annualized +6.45% vs +14.29% for USMC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDV or USMC?
GDV has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 15.3% for USMC. Worst drawdown: GDV -58.1% vs USMC -30.0%.
Should I hold both GDV and USMC?
GDV and USMC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 GDV and USMC?
At least 99.7% of USMC'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 678 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 27 in USMC.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDV or USMC?
GDV yields 5.50% while USMC yields 0.74%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USMC better than GDV?
USMC has a lower expense ratio. USMC 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.