SGOLvsIAUETF Comparison
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The ETFs abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) 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. SGOL is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.17%, versus 0.25% for IAU. SGOL is up 8.64% year-to-date (YTD) with +$19M in YTD flows. IAU performs worse with 5.01% YTD performance, and -$1.93B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of SGOL 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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SGOL vs IAU performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/14/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | SGOL IAU | -2.34%-6.14% | -3.71%-6.91% | +8.64%+5.01% | +46.46%+41.55% | +130.67%+122.51% | +152.62%+141.20% |
| Flows | SGOL IAU | -$63M-$77M | -$134M-$3.00B | +$19M-$1.93B | +$540M+$4.58B | +$1.04B+$5.76B | +$1.29B+$4.30B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | SGOL IAU | +29.04%+29.52% | +24.66%+24.88% | +18.65%+18.72% | +17.34%+17.18% |
| Max drawdown | SGOL IAU | -16.95%-16.96% | -18.36%-18.38% | -18.36%-18.38% | -20.21%-20.25% |
| Max drawdown duration | SGOL IAU | 73d74d | 105d106d | 105d106d | 400d400d |
Trading data
SGOL | IAU | |
Last sale 5/15/2026 at 1:30 PM | $43.28 | $85.51 |
| Previous close 05/14/2026 | $44.30 | $87.54 |
| Consolidated volume 05/14/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of May 17, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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SGOL | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/15/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
SGOL | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $43.28 | $85.51 |
| 1D performance | -2.30% | -2.32% |
| AuM | $7.97 B | $70.06 B |
| E/R | 0.17% | 0.25% |
Characteristics
SGOL | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | abrdn | 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 | September 9, 2009 | January 21, 2005 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
SGOL
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IAU
Data will be available soon
Sectors
SGOL
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IAU
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Diversification
SGOL
Data will be available soon
IAU
Data will be available soon
Top 15 holdings
Data as of January 1, 1970
SGOL
Data will be available soon
IAU
Data will be available soon
Frequently asked questions about SGOL and IAU
How have the SGOL and IAU ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 14, 2026, SGOL is up 8.64% year-to-date (YTD), while IAU has returned 5.01%. That puts SGOL better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: SGOL or IAU?
Year-to-date, the SGOL ETF saw +$19M in flows, compared to -$1.93B for IAU.
Which ETF is more volatile: SGOL or IAU?
Over the past year, SGOL had a volatility of 24.66%, while IAU experienced 24.88%.
Which ETF is bigger: SGOL or IAU?
As of May 14, 2026, SGOL holds $7.97 B in assets under management (AUM), while IAU manages $70.06 B.
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