We apply ab initio quantum-chemical methods to calculate correlation e
ffects on cohesive properties of GdN, thereby extending the recently p
roposed incremental method to rare-earth compounds. Our calculated val
ues are in reasonable agreement with the experimental cohesive energy
(86.0%) and the experimental lattice constant (102.0%). Furthermore, w
e calculate a bulk modulus of 140.3 GPa. Taking into account estimates
for the effect of a better basis both at the one-particle level and a
t the many-particle level, we even reach 98.5% of the experimental coh
esive energy and 101.3% of the experimental lattice constant. For this
estimate, we obtain a bulk modulus of 163.8 GPa.