GLD
SPDR Gold Shares
VS
IAU
iShares Gold Trust
IAU wins 3 of 9 categories
IAU wins 3 of 9 categories
GLD wins: Assets Under Mgmt | IAU wins: Expense Ratio, 1-Year Return, 5-Year Return | Tie: 3-Year Return, YTD Return, Dividend Yield, Holdings, Beta
MetricGLDIAU
Cost
Expense Ratio0.40%0.25%
Performance
1-Year Return35.82%35.95%
3-Year Return14.25%14.32%
5-Year Return12.45%12.58%
YTD Return15.22%15.28%
Income
Dividend Yield0.00%0.00%
Size & Diversification
Assets Under Mgmt$73B$32B
Holdings11
Risk
Beta0.050.05

Top Holdings

GLD Top Holdings

Physical Gold Bullion100.0%

IAU Top Holdings

Physical Gold Bullion100.0%

Fund Details

DetailGLDIAU
IssuerState StreetBlackRock
CategoryCommoditiesCommodities
BenchmarkGold Spot PriceGold Spot Price
Inception Date2004-11-182005-01-21

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GLD or IAU a better investment?
It depends on your goals. GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) has an expense ratio of 0.40% and a 5-year return of 12.45%. IAU (iShares Gold Trust) has an expense ratio of 0.25% and a 5-year return of 12.58%. IAU wins on fees. Both track gold identically.
What is the expense ratio difference between GLD and IAU?
GLD charges 0.40% while IAU charges 0.25%. That's a difference of 0.15 percentage points. On a $10,000 investment, that's roughly $15 per year.
Which has better returns, GLD or IAU?
Over the past year, IAU delivered higher returns (35.95% vs 35.82%). Over 5 years, IAU leads with 12.58% annualized.
Can I hold both GLD and IAU?
Yes, many investors hold both. GLD tracks the Gold Spot Price while IAU tracks the Gold Spot Price. Check the holdings overlap before combining them in your portfolio.

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