GLDvsIAUETF Comparison
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The ETFs State Street SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) and iShares Gold Trust ETF (IAU) track the LBMA London Gold Market Fixing Price PM Index - USD and belong to the same industry segment: Gold. GLD is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.4%, versus 0.25% for IAU. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of GLD and IAU below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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GLD vs IAU performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/20/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | GLD IAU | n/a-6.89% | n/a-11.34% | n/a+3.96% | n/a+37.11% | n/a+125.85% | n/a+135.71% |
| Flows | GLD IAU | --$341M | --$3.22B | --$2.22B | -+$4.56B | -+$5.42B | -+$3.99B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | GLD IAU | n/a+28.96% | n/a+24.90% | n/a+18.74% | n/a+17.18% |
| Max drawdown | GLD IAU | n/a-16.96% | n/a-18.38% | n/a-18.38% | n/a-20.25% |
| Max drawdown duration | GLD IAU | n/a79d | n/a111d | n/a111d | n/a400d |
Trading data
GLD | IAU | |
Last sale 5/21/2026 at 3:21 PM | $413.60 | $84.76 |
| Previous close 05/20/2026 | $417.40 | $85.53 |
| Consolidated volume 05/20/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of May 21, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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GLD | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/21/2026 at 3:21 PM
Live
Closed
GLD | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $413.60 | $84.76 |
| 1D performance | -0.91% | -0.90% |
| AuM | $69.07 B | |
| E/R | 0.4% | 0.25% |
Characteristics
GLD | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | State Street Investment Management | iShares |
| Benchmark | LBMA London Gold Market Fixing Price PM Index | LBMA London Gold Market Fixing Price PM Index |
| N° of holdings | - | - |
| Asset class | Commodities | Commodities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | November 18, 2004 | January 21, 2005 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
GLD
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IAU
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Sectors
GLD
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IAU
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Diversification
GLD
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IAU
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Top 15 holdings
Data as of January 1, 1970
GLD
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IAU
Data will be available soon
Frequently asked questions about GLD and IAU
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