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GABF vs. IYF
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

GABF vs. IYF

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

GABF (Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF) and IYF (iShares U.S. Financials ETF) are both Financials Equities funds. GABF is actively managed, while IYF is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, GABF returned 20.47%/yr vs 20.58%/yr for IYF. Their correlation of 0.90 suggests significant overlap in exposure. GABF charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.42%/yr for IYF.

Performance

GABF vs. IYF - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (GABF) and iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GABF achieves a -7.03% return, which is significantly lower than IYF's -5.20% return.

GABF

1D
-1.89%
1M
-3.11%
YTD
-7.03%
6M
-6.24%
1Y
-3.20%
3Y*
20.47%
5Y*
—
10Y*
—

IYF

1D
-1.13%
1M
-1.00%
YTD
-5.20%
6M
-3.00%
1Y
5.96%
3Y*
20.58%
5Y*
9.52%
10Y*
12.56%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GABF vs. IYF - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022
GABF
Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF		-7.03%3.60%44.38%38.92%0.40%
IYF
iShares U.S. Financials ETF		-5.20%18.25%31.30%15.32%3.50%

Correlation

The correlation between GABF and IYF is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.90

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.90

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since May 11, 2022

0.90

The correlation between GABF and IYF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.90 - a consistent structural relationship.

GABF vs. IYF - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
GABF
IYF

Financial Services

84.6%
99.0%

Real Estate

6.0%
0.7%

Technology

4.9%
0.3%

Industrials

4.6%

-

Basic Materials

-

-

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Financial Services

GABF
84.6%
IYF
99.0%

Real Estate

GABF
6.0%
IYF
0.7%

Technology

GABF
4.9%
IYF
0.3%

Industrials

GABF
4.6%
IYF

-

Basic Materials

GABF

-

IYF

-

Communication Services

GABF

-

IYF

-

Consumer Cyclical

GABF

-

IYF

-

Consumer Defensive

GABF

-

IYF

-

Energy

GABF

-

IYF

-

Healthcare

GABF

-

IYF

-

Utilities

GABF

-

IYF

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF

iShares U.S. Financials ETF

Often compared with GABF:
GABF vs. GABFXGABF vs. ASETGABF vs. IYGGABF vs. XLFGABF vs. DFSBGABF vs. VOOGABF vs. GSIB
Often compared with IYF:
IYF vs. XLFIYF vs. VFHIYF vs. IYGIYF vs. KBWBIYF vs. IXGIYF vs. KBEIYF vs. FTXO

Return for Risk

GABF vs. IYF — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
GABF
GABF Risk / Return Rank: 77
Overall Rank
GABF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
Sharpe Ratio Rank
GABF Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
Sortino Ratio Rank
GABF Omega Ratio Rank: 66
Omega Ratio Rank
GABF Calmar Ratio Rank: 77
Calmar Ratio Rank
GABF Martin Ratio Rank: 77
Martin Ratio Rank
IYF
IYF Risk / Return Rank: 1414
Overall Rank
IYF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1515
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IYF Sortino Ratio Rank: 1414
Sortino Ratio Rank
IYF Omega Ratio Rank: 1414
Omega Ratio Rank
IYF Calmar Ratio Rank: 1414
Calmar Ratio Rank
IYF Martin Ratio Rank: 1414
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

GABF vs. IYF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (GABF) and iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

GABFIYFDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
-0.19
0.42

-0.60

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
-0.13
0.65

-0.79

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

0.98

1.08

-0.10

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

-0.19

0.43

-0.62

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

-0.44

1.18

-1.62

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

GABF vs. IYF - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GABF Sharpe Ratio is -0.19, which is lower than the IYF Sharpe Ratio of 0.42. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GABF and IYF, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

GABFIYFDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

-0.19

0.42

-0.60

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

—

0.50

—

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.60

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.87

0.22

+0.65

Drawdowns

GABF vs. IYF - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GABF drawdown since its inception was -20.86%, smaller than the maximum IYF drawdown of -79.09%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GABF and IYF.

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Drawdown Indicators

GABFIYFDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-20.86%

-79.09%

+58.23%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-17.16%

-13.88%

-3.28%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-20.86%

-16.60%

-4.26%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-25.06%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-42.57%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-11.60%

-8.10%

-3.50%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.86%

-17.61%

+12.75%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

7.27%

5.06%

+2.21%

Volatility

GABF vs. IYF - Volatility Comparison

Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (GABF) has a higher volatility of 4.28% compared to iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF) at 3.41%. This indicates that GABF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IYF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

GABFIYFDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.28%

3.41%

+0.87%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.14%

10.80%

+2.34%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

17.37%

14.34%

+3.03%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

20.54%

19.00%

+1.54%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

20.54%

20.89%

-0.35%

GABF vs. IYF - Expense Ratio Comparison

GABF has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than IYF's 0.42% expense ratio.

Dividends

GABF vs. IYF - Dividend Comparison

GABF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.11%, more than IYF's 1.57% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
GABF
Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF		2.11%1.96%4.19%4.95%1.31%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
IYF
iShares U.S. Financials ETF		1.57%1.32%1.29%1.67%1.86%1.27%1.72%1.64%1.90%1.46%1.67%1.66%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.90, GABF and IYF move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

GABF has higher volatility (4.28%) compared to IYF (3.41%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GABF dropped -20.86% vs IYF's -79.09%.

On 3-year performance, IYF leads with 20.58% vs 20.47% for GABF. On fees, GABF is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IYF has been the lower-risk option at 3.41%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 3-year period, IYF has performed better with a 20.58% return vs 20.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

GABF is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.42% for IYF.

GABF has the higher dividend yield at 2.11%, compared with 1.57% for IYF.

They also come from different issuers: Gabelli and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for GABF and 0.42% for IYF.

IYF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.42 vs -0.19), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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