GLD vs VOO
SPDR Gold Shares vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.40%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. equities across growth and value styles. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.18%. Launched in 2010, the fund has a 16-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VOO is significantly cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.40% expense ratio, saving you approximately $727 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, GLD has significantly outperformed with a 52.3% return vs 16.8%. Income investors may prefer VOO for its higher yield (1.2% vs 0.0%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
VOO Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 7.31% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 6.63% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 4.96% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 3.47% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.56% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 2.46% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 2.40% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 1.92% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc.BRK.B | 1.57% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VOO if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose GLD if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose VOO if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.