GNR vs. VAW
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (GNR) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW).
GNR and VAW are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GNR is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Natural Resources Index. It was launched on Sep 13, 2010. VAW is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both GNR and VAW are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
GNR vs. VAW - Performance Comparison
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GNR vs. VAW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GNR SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | 19.84% | 28.68% | -8.27% | 2.95% | 10.20% | 24.73% | -0.03% | 16.49% | -13.19% | 22.64% |
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 10.45% | 12.30% | 0.48% | 13.67% | -11.80% | 27.43% | 19.44% | 23.53% | -17.49% | 23.76% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GNR achieves a 19.84% return, which is significantly higher than VAW's 10.45% return. Over the past 10 years, GNR has outperformed VAW with an annualized return of 11.63%, while VAW has yielded a comparatively lower 10.70% annualized return.
GNR
- 1D
- -0.27%
- 1M
- -1.86%
- YTD
- 19.84%
- 6M
- 27.71%
- 1Y
- 43.54%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 11.63%
VAW
- 1D
- 1.35%
- 1M
- -5.90%
- YTD
- 10.45%
- 6M
- 13.21%
- 1Y
- 22.50%
- 3Y*
- 10.54%
- 5Y*
- 7.38%
- 10Y*
- 10.70%
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GNR vs. VAW - Expense Ratio Comparison
GNR has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than VAW's 0.10% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
GNR vs. VAW — Risk / Return Rank
GNR
VAW
GNR vs. VAW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (GNR) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW). 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.
| GNR | VAW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.11 | 1.06 | +1.06 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.71 | 1.59 | +1.12 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.21 | +0.21 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 1.60 | +1.39 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.59 | 5.48 | +10.11 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GNR | VAW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.11 | 1.06 | +1.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.59 | 0.38 | +0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.51 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.26 | 0.39 | -0.13 |
Correlation
The correlation between GNR and VAW is 0.82, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
GNR vs. VAW - Dividend Comparison
GNR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.31%, more than VAW's 1.40% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GNR SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF | 2.31% | 2.76% | 4.73% | 3.37% | 4.37% | 3.44% | 2.78% | 3.84% | 3.51% | 2.40% | 2.06% | 4.59% |
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 1.40% | 1.55% | 1.70% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.94% | 2.03% | 1.63% | 1.67% | 2.30% |
Drawdowns
GNR vs. VAW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GNR drawdown since its inception was -51.37%, smaller than the maximum VAW drawdown of -62.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GNR and VAW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GNR | VAW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.37% | -62.17% | +10.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.80% | -14.33% | -0.47% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.66% | -25.50% | -0.16% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.59% | -41.13% | -7.46% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.86% | -6.10% | +4.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.10% | -9.67% | -5.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.83% | 4.17% | -1.34% |
Volatility
GNR vs. VAW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF (GNR) is 5.51%, while Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) has a volatility of 6.71%. This indicates that GNR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GNR | VAW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.51% | 6.71% | -1.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.76% | 13.38% | +0.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.70% | 21.41% | -0.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.35% | 19.57% | +0.78% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.01% | 21.14% | +0.87% |