IAUvsBARETF Comparison
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The ETFs iShares Gold Trust ETF (IAU) and GraniteShares Gold Trust ETF (BAR) track the LBMA London Gold Market Fixing Price PM Index - USD and belong to the same industry segment: Gold. IAU is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.25%, versus 0.1749% for BAR. IAU is up 1.64% year-to-date (YTD) with -$4.49B in YTD flows. BAR performs better with 1.69% YTD performance, and -$105M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IAU and BAR 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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IAU vs BAR performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/11/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IAU BAR | +0.04%+0.05% | +7.57%+7.59% | +1.64%+1.69% | +20.55%+20.64% | +126.18%+126.69% | +141.49%+142.40% |
| Flows | IAU BAR | +$702M- | -$2.01B-$65M | -$4.49B-$105M | -$588M-$50M | +$4.82B-$375M | +$1.29B-$576M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IAU BAR | +24.83%+24.25% | +27.59%+27.38% | +20.27%+20.23% | +17.99%+18.11% |
| Max drawdown | IAU BAR | -8.32%-8.32% | -26.20%-26.18% | -26.20%-26.18% | -26.20%-26.18% |
| Max drawdown duration | IAU BAR | 56d56d | 225d225d | 225d225d | 225d225d |
Trading data
IAU | BAR | |
Last sale 9/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $81.71 | $42.78 |
| Previous close 09/10/2026 | $81.27 | $42.56 |
| Consolidated volume 09/10/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of September 13, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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IAU | BAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/11/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
IAU | BAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $81.71 | $42.78 |
| 1D performance | +0.54% | +0.52% |
| AuM | $65.08 B | $1.41 B |
| E/R | 0.25% | 0.1749% |
Characteristics
IAU | BAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | GraniteShares |
| 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 | January 21, 2005 | August 31, 2017 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
IAU
Data will be available soon
BAR
Data will be available soon
Sectors
IAU
Data will be available soon
BAR
Data will be available soon
Diversification
IAU
Data will be available soon
BAR
Data will be available soon
Top 15 holdings
Data as of January 1, 1970
IAU
Data will be available soon
BAR
Data will be available soon
Frequently asked questions about IAU and BAR
How have the IAU and BAR ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 11, 2026, IAU is up 1.64% year-to-date (YTD), while BAR has returned 1.69%. That puts BAR better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IAU or BAR?
Year-to-date, the IAU ETF saw -$4.49B in flows, compared to -$105M for BAR.
Which ETF is more volatile: IAU or BAR?
Over the past year, IAU had a volatility of 27.59%, while BAR experienced 27.38%.
Which ETF is bigger: IAU or BAR?
As of September 11, 2026, IAU holds $65.08 B in assets under management (AUM), while BAR manages $1.41 B.
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