GLOF vs SPY
iShares Global Equity Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GLOF or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GLOF led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. GLOF is less concentrated, with 25.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | GLOF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $202M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.54% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 715 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +15.32%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +20.57%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.97%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.1%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 28, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 4, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.4 years).
GLOF vs SPY 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
GLOF vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Equity Factor ETF (GLOF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GLOF returned +20.57% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, GLOF is up 15.32% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, GLOF compounded at +22.97% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.71% annualized vs +9.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.9% for GLOF. 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 -36.7% for GLOF and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GLOF charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GLOF currently yields 1.54% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
58.8% of GLOF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 79.7% of SPY's money is in holdings GLOF also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside GLOF. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
198 positions in common, counted across the 662 positions we hold weights for in GLOF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 715 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 299 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GLOF (19.4% of the fund), and 25 for GLOF that do not appear in SPY (3.7%).
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 GLOF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.14% | 7.78% | 2.64% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.54% | 7.45% | 2.91% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.51% | 5.71% | 2.20% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.12% | 3.78% | 1.66% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C | 3.28% | 2.49% | 0.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.60% | 2.48% | 0.88% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.37% | 2.22% | 0.85% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 0.01% | 3.12% | 3.11% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.05% | 1.59% | 0.54% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.89% | 1.43% | 0.54% |
79.7% of SPY is already inside GLOF.
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, GLOF or SPY?
GLOF has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GLOF or SPY?
Over the past year GLOF returned +20.57% vs +17.47% for SPY, so GLOF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GLOF annualized +9.09% vs +12.71% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GLOF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.9% for GLOF. Worst drawdown: GLOF -36.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both GLOF and SPY?
GLOF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GLOF and SPY?
79.7% of SPY's money is in holdings GLOF also owns. 79.7% of SPY's is in holdings GLOF also owns. They hold 198 positions in common, counted across the 662 positions we hold weights for in GLOF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GLOF or SPY?
GLOF yields 1.54% while SPY yields 0.99%, so GLOF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GLOF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. GLOF led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. GLOF is less concentrated, with 25.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.