SPDR Gold Shares
GLD CommodityUpdated: Jul 5, 2026, 21:17 UTC
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About This ETF
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is a Commodity ETF with an expense ratio (TER) of 0.4% and $150.4B in assets under management. Year-to-date, GLD has returned -5.06%.
The Trust holds gold bars and from time to time, issues Baskets in exchange for deposits of gold and distributes gold in connection with redemptions of Baskets. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trust’s expenses. The Sponsor believes that, for many investors, the Shares represent a cost-effective investment in gold.
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Gold ETF comparison (GLD · IAU) ›FAQ — GLD
What is the TER of GLD (SPDR Gold Shares)?
GLD has a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.40 % per year. That sits below the commodity category median (0.65 % across 9 peer ETFs). The TER is deducted directly from the fund and lowers your effective return.
What return has GLD delivered?
Performance for GLD: YTD: -5.06 % · 3-year p.a.: +28.44 % · 5-year p.a.: +17.72 %. Over 5 years, GLD outperforms the commodity category median of +15.34 % by +2.38 pp. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
Where can I buy or set up a savings plan for GLD?
GLD is available at most major brokers. For a free monthly savings plan from €1, look at Trade Republic, Scalable Capital or Flatex. The broker comparison on this site shows fees, free-savings-plan ETFs and execution exchanges side by side.
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) at a glance
SPDR Gold Shares is the world's largest exchange-traded gold fund, with roughly $153.5B in assets under management. The trust holds physical gold bars and tracks the price of gold bullion, less ongoing expenses. For investors, GLD is a simple way to add gold exposure without storing bars themselves. As a commodity, GLD pays no dividend, but it has traditionally served as a portfolio diversifier and potential inflation hedge alongside stocks and bonds.
Performance & drivers
Over the past three years, GLD returned roughly 31.19% cumulatively, and about 18.11% over five years. Year to date it is up around 3.64%. Its 52-week range ran from about $299.89 to $509.70, with the fund currently trading near the middle of that band.
GLD's price simply tracks the price of gold less the 0.40% annual expense ratio. Key drivers include real interest rates, the US dollar, central-bank buying, and safe-haven demand during periods of stress. Gold produces no income, so the entire return comes from price movement rather than yield.
Risk profile
GLD is a single-commodity investment and therefore less diversified than a broad equity or bond ETF. The price of gold can move sideways for long stretches or fall sharply, as the 52-week range of $299.89 to $509.70 illustrates.
- Currency risk: Gold trades in US dollars. For euro-area investors, a weaker dollar can erode gains or deepen losses regardless of the gold price itself.
- No income: GLD pays no interest or dividends, which can be a drawback when real interest rates are high.
- Structure: The fund holds physical gold rather than futures, so it avoids roll costs.
Who is GLD for?
GLD suits investors who want to hold a small slice of their portfolio in gold for diversification and as a potential inflation hedge. Thanks to its deep liquidity and physical gold backing, the fund works well as a medium- to long-term allocation, often in the low single digits up to perhaps ten percent of a portfolio.
GLD is less suitable for investors seeking regular income such as interest or dividends, since gold makes no distributions. Those building a broadly diversified growth portfolio or trading short term will find more fitting instruments. Euro-area investors should also factor in the US dollar currency risk.
How GLD compares
Among physically backed gold ETFs, GLD is the best-known and most liquid, with roughly $153.5B in assets, though its 0.40% expense ratio is comparatively higher.
- iShares Gold Trust (IAU): also tracks physical gold but is typically cheaper, making it attractive for cost-conscious investors.
- iShares Silver Trust (SLV): holds silver instead of gold, tends to be more volatile, and carries an industrial-demand component.
- Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy (PDBC): uses futures to cover a broad commodity basket rather than holding gold alone.
The right choice depends on cost preference and how broad you want commodity exposure to be.
Where can I buy GLD?
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