GLD vs SPDW
SPDR Gold Shares vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR 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.
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.04%. Launched in 2007, the fund has a 19-year track record.
Quick Verdict
SPDW 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 49.8% return vs 39.9%.
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
SPDW Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!lon/SMSN | 2.13% |
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 1.71% |
| SK hynix Inc.!krx/000660 | 1.19% |
| AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN | 0.99% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 0.97% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 0.93% |
| Roche Holding AG!swx/ROP | 0.87% |
| Shell plc!lon/SHEL | 0.83% |
| Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN | 0.81% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation!tyo/7203 | 0.81% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SPDW 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.