GLD vs XLRE
SPDR Gold Shares vs State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR 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 Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to us sector - real estate securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.27%. Launched in 2015, the fund has a 11-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLRE is significantly cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.40% expense ratio, saving you approximately $627 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, GLD has significantly outperformed with a 49.8% return vs 11.5%.
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
XLRE Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Welltower Inc.WELL | 10.17% |
| Prologis, Inc.PLD | 9.10% |
| Equinix, Inc.EQIX | 7.12% |
| American Tower CorporationAMT | 5.87% |
| Digital Realty Trust, Inc.DLR | 4.60% |
| Simon Property Group, Inc.SPG | 4.58% |
| CBRE Group, Inc.CBRE | 4.53% |
| Ventas, Inc.VTR | 4.36% |
| Realty Income CorporationO | 4.35% |
| Public StoragePSA | 4.33% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLRE 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.