GLD vs XLU
SPDR Gold Shares vs State Street Utilities 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 Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to us sector - utilities securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.51%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLU 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 25.8%.
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
XLU Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NextEra Energy, Inc.NEE | 13.52% |
| The Southern CompanySO | 7.38% |
| Duke Energy CorporationDUK | 7.06% |
| Constellation Energy CorporationCEG | 6.11% |
| American Electric Power Company, Inc.AEP | 5.02% |
| SempraSRE | 4.45% |
| Dominion Energy, Inc.D | 3.72% |
| Entergy CorporationETR | 3.57% |
| Exelon CorporationEXC | 3.47% |
| Vistra Corp.VST | 3.42% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLU 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.