IAUvsSGOLETF Comparison
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The ETFs iShares Gold Trust ETF (IAU) and abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) 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 0.17% for SGOL. IAU is up 4.48% year-to-date (YTD) with -$2.31B in YTD flows. SGOL performs better with 4.51% YTD performance, and -$10M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IAU and SGOL 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 SGOL performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/21/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IAU SGOL | -5.70%-5.70% | -13.27%-13.25% | +4.48%+4.51% | +36.20%+36.31% | +126.97%+127.49% | +137.15%+137.60% |
| Flows | IAU SGOL | -$426M-$93M | -$3.31B-$164M | -$2.31B-$10M | +$4.47B+$556M | +$5.34B+$1.01B | +$3.87B+$1.24B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IAU SGOL | +28.36%+28.41% | +24.88%+24.90% | +18.73%+18.75% | +17.19%+17.41% |
| Max drawdown | IAU SGOL | -16.96%-16.95% | -18.38%-18.36% | -18.38%-18.36% | -20.25%-20.21% |
| Max drawdown duration | IAU SGOL | 80d80d | 112d112d | 112d112d | 400d400d |
Trading data
IAU | SGOL | |
Last sale 5/22/2026 at 5:56 PM | $85.03 | $43.04 |
| Previous close 05/21/2026 | $85.43 | $43.24 |
| Consolidated volume 05/21/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of May 22, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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IAU | SGOL | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/22/2026 at 5:56 PM
Live
Closed
IAU | SGOL | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $85.03 | $43.04 |
| 1D performance | -0.47% | -0.46% |
| AuM | $69.33 B | $7.64 B |
| E/R | 0.25% | 0.17% |
Characteristics
IAU | SGOL | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | abrdn |
| 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 | September 9, 2009 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
IAU
Data will be available soon
SGOL
Data will be available soon
Sectors
IAU
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SGOL
Data will be available soon
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Diversification
IAU
Data will be available soon
SGOL
Data will be available soon
Top 15 holdings
Data as of January 1, 1970
IAU
Data will be available soon
SGOL
Data will be available soon
Frequently asked questions about IAU and SGOL
How have the IAU and SGOL ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 21, 2026, IAU is up 4.48% year-to-date (YTD), while SGOL has returned 4.51%. That puts SGOL better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IAU or SGOL?
Year-to-date, the IAU ETF saw -$2.31B in flows, compared to -$10M for SGOL.
Which ETF is more volatile: IAU or SGOL?
Over the past year, IAU had a volatility of 24.88%, while SGOL experienced 24.9%.
Which ETF is bigger: IAU or SGOL?
As of May 21, 2026, IAU holds $69.33 B in assets under management (AUM), while SGOL manages $7.64 B.
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