What Is the GCOR ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
A low-cost ETF that strategically invests in the US investment-grade bond market through Goldman Sachs' refined fundamental screening.
SubscribeWhat Is This ETF?
The fund tracks the FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Index and invests in a wide range of investment-grade bonds issued in US dollars in the United States. Rather than simply holding bonds in proportion to market size, it raises the quality of the portfolio by taking into account corporate profitability and debt levels.
It suits investors who want low-cost exposure to the broad US bond market while also seeking refined risk management that filters out corporate bonds showing signs of distress.
Launched by Goldman Sachs in 2020, it is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF.
How Does It Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | FTSE Goldman Sachs US Broad Bond Index |
| Management Style | Passive (with fundamental screening applied) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Monthly |
| Dividend Frequency | Monthly |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.08% |
Treasuries and government-related bonds are held at market weights, while in the corporate bond segment, fundamental indicators such as operating margin and leverage ratio are scored. This allows the fund to proactively exclude bonds of companies whose financial condition is deteriorating, which strengthens defense in down markets and improves long-term risk-adjusted returns.
- A smart beta strategy that incorporates Goldman Sachs' corporate analysis expertise
- High credit quality maintained, centered on top-rated bonds
Size and Costs
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $811.5M, and the expense ratio is 0.08% per year.
US Treasuries make up nearly half of the portfolio, providing a stable foundation, while adjustments to the corporate bond weighting seek additional return opportunities.
Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeIn a market environment of high interest rate volatility, its defensive character, centered on high-quality bonds, stood out. It behaves like a typical aggregate bond ETF, with price movements determined by the trend in real interest rates and the direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.
Inflows tend to concentrate when safe-haven sentiment strengthens, and the fund has been chosen by institutional investors as a core bond holding, showing steady growth in size.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The fund diversifies across a variety of bond assets to generate stable cash flow, but the risk of price declines during periods of rising interest rates is a risk common to all bond-type assets.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products
BND and AGG shown in the table are representative products that track the entire US bond market on a market-capitalization-weighted basis. GCOR has similar sector weightings but differentiates itself by adding smart beta techniques in the corporate bond segment. If you want more active management, FBND is an option, and if you prefer a similar low-cost index strategy, SCHZ and SPAB are also excellent alternatives.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BND | Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | $71.38 | +0.3% | $166.1B | 0.03% | 4.12% | -4.5% |
 AGG | iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | $96.15 | +0.3% | $139.1B | 0.03% | 4.12% | -4.6% |
 FBND | Fidelity Total Bond ETF | $44.04 | -0.1% | $28.4B | 0.36% | 4.82% | -5.5% |
 IAGG | iShares International Aggregate Bond Fund | $49.49 | +0.1% | $12.6B | 0.07% | 5.19% | -4.3% |
 SCHZ | Schwab US Aggregate Bond ETF | $22.48 | +0.2% | $10.8B | 0.03% | 4.28% | -4.7% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GBND | Goldman Sachs Core Bond ETF | 0.11% | $48.87 | +0.1% | $0.0M | - | 3.9% |
 GXUS | Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Total International Equity ETF | 0.10% | $61.52 | -0.1% | $0.0M | - | 2.6% |
 BNO | United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 0.16% | $70.76 | +0.9% | $0.0M | - | - |
 USLM | United States Lime & Minerals Inc | 0.15% | $113.89 | +4.2% | $3.3B | 24.4 | 0.21% |
Investor Checkpoints
Before making a final decision on investing in GCOR, it is advisable to carefully review the following key bond management characteristics against your own asset allocation strategy.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 📉 Interest Rate Outlook | Assess how the future direction of market interest rates will affect bond prices | Important |
| 🔍 Credit Screening | Whether Goldman Sachs' security selection method fits your investment philosophy | Needs review |
| 💵 Monthly Distributions | Whether its ability to generate stable cash flow matches your objectives | Good |
Bond ETFs tend to move in the opposite direction of market interest rates, so be aware that losses can occur even in a defensive asset during periods of rate hikes driven by inflation concerns.
In conclusion, for investors who want to invest across the broad US high-quality bond market at low cost while adding risk management capability, this product can serve as a stable foundation for a portfolio.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
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