LIVE
GLDM
SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust · Commodities - Precious Metals / ETF
$83.44
-5.93% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
IAU
iShares Gold Trust · Commodities - Precious Metals / ETF
$79.33
-5.92% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across expense ratio, momentum, yield, fund size, risk
GLDM
3
IAU
1
Comparison scoreboard
GLDM LEADS 3/5Exp. Ratio
GLDM ✓0.10%
IAU 0.25%
1Y Return
GLDM ✓+25.12%
IAU +24.97%
Div. Yield
GLDM 0.00%
IAU 0.00%
AUM
GLDM $30.87B
IAU ✓$69.92B
Beta
GLDM ✓0.17
IAU 0.17
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
GLDM vs IAU Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
GLDM and IAU are both physically-backed gold ETFs designed to track the spot gold price, differing primarily in expense ratio (GLDM at 0.10% vs IAU at 0.25%), liquidity (IAU is more liquid), and fund manager (State Street vs BlackRock). For long-term investors, GLDM's lower expense ratio provides a slight cost advantage, while IAU's higher liquidity is more important for large institutional traders.
GLDM vs IAU is the key cost-vs-liquidity comparison among low-cost physical gold ETFs — GLDM's lowest-in-class expense ratio versus IAU's superior trading liquidity and BlackRock brand.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
GLDM holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. GLDM has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+25.12% vs +24.97% for IAU).
Normalized 1Y performance
GLDM
IAU
Recent returns
GLDM
IAU
Who should consider this stock?
GLDM may suit investors who:
- →Want the lowest-cost gold ETF for a long-term buy-and-hold gold allocation where total cost minimization matters most
- →Value SPDR's gold ETF heritage and State Street's established track record in physically-backed precious metals funds
- →Are making smaller-to-medium gold purchases where GLDM's lower price per share is more accessible
IAU may suit investors who:
- →Want the highest-liquidity physically-backed gold ETF for ease of entry and exit, particularly for larger position sizes
- →Value BlackRock's iShares brand and the trust associated with the world's largest ETF provider
- →Are comfortable with a 0.25% expense ratio in exchange for the liquidity and brand recognition of IAU
Performance & AI score
| Metric | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 76.0 | 74.0 |
| Latest close | $83.44 | $79.33 |
| 1M return | -5.93% | -5.92% |
| 6M return | -2.89% | -2.97% |
| 1Y return | +25.12% | +24.97% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.51K (+25.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $12.5K (+25.0%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $23.8K (+138.0%) started 2021-06-18 | $23.64K (+136.4%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $33.14K (+231.4%) started 2018-06-26 | $31.86K (+218.6%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fund characteristics
| Metric | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.10% | 0.25% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $30.87B | $69.92B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| 52-week change | 25.12% | 24.97% |
Risk & fund metrics
| Metric | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +25.12% | +24.97% |
| 6M return | -2.89% | -2.97% |
| 1M return | -5.93% | -5.92% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.80 | 0.79 |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 5Y CAGR | +18.94% | +18.78% |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
GLDM max drawdown24.35%
IAU max drawdown24.40%
GLDM max wkly drop12.26%
IAU max wkly drop12.24%
5Y risk snapshot
GLDM max drawdown24.35%
IAU max drawdown24.40%
GLDM max wkly drop12.26%
IAU max wkly drop12.24%
10Y risk snapshot
GLDM max drawdown24.35%
IAU max drawdown24.40%
GLDM max wkly drop12.26%
IAU max wkly drop12.24%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +25.12% | +24.97% |
| CAGR | +25.14% | +24.99% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.80 | 0.79 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.35% | 24.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.08% | 10.21% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.26% | 12.24% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +137.99% | +136.38% |
| CAGR | +18.94% | +18.78% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.80 | 0.80 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.35% | 24.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.08% | 10.21% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.26% | 12.24% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +231.43% | +218.59% |
| CAGR | +16.21% | +12.29% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.71 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdown | 24.35% | 24.40% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.08% | 10.21% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.26% | 12.24% |
Fund overview
| Category | GLDM | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | SPDR Gold MiniShares | iShares Gold Trust |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.10% | 0.25% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $30.87B | $69.92B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
GLDM strengths
- →Lowest expense ratio among major gold ETFs at 0.10% annually — significantly lower than GLD (0.40%) and slightly lower than IAU (0.25%)
- →SPDR/State Street brand credibility and proven track record in the gold ETF market through its GLD franchise
- →Lower price per share than GLD makes it accessible for smaller investors and those building fractional gold positions
IAU strengths
- →iShares (BlackRock) brand is the leading ETF provider globally — institutional investors often default to BlackRock products for established trust
- →Very high liquidity — IAU is consistently among the most actively traded gold ETFs, making it easy to enter and exit positions of any size
- →Multiple vault locations across three countries provide geographic diversification for physical gold holdings
Risks to watch — GLDM
- →Very small differences in expense ratios matter over long holding periods — GLDM's 0.10% vs IAU's 0.25% means less than $1.50 per year per $1,000 invested
- →Physical gold ETF performance is essentially identical to spot gold price minus the expense ratio — there is no operational differentiation between physically-backed gold ETFs
- →Liquidity (trading volume) for GLDM is lower than IAU and much lower than GLD — which can matter for institutional investors placing large orders
Risks to watch — IAU
- →IAU's 0.25% expense ratio is competitive but now sits between GLDM's 0.10% and GLD's 0.40% — long-term cost-sensitive investors may prefer GLDM
- →Physical gold ETF performance is essentially identical between IAU and GLDM — the only material differentiation is expense ratio and liquidity
- →Tax treatment for gold ETFs may differ from equity ETF treatment depending on jurisdiction — investors should consult tax advisors on collectibles treatment
Frequently asked questions
Free public comparison
Want deeper AI forecasts?
This comparison page is public and free forever. Subscribers can unlock saved watchlists, full AI rankings, detailed forecasts, and interactive analysis tools.
Related comparisons
More comparisons
Browse all 1,000 comparisons →