SPDR Gold Shares

Provides investors with a convenient and cost-effective way to track the price of physical gold.

Why This Week?

GLD is the largest and most liquid gold ETF in the world. As inflation hedges and safe-haven assets regain popularity amid global uncertainty, holding physical gold via an ETF is the standard approach. It serves as a classic portfolio diversifier due to its historically low correlation to equities and fixed income.

Key Metrics

Asset Class

Commodities

Expense Ratio

0.40%

Dividend Yield

0.00%

AUM

$60B+

Top Holdings

1 holdings shown. Weights are approximate.

#NameWeight

GOLDPhysical Gold Bullion

100%

Pros & Cons

Strengths

Direct exposure to physical gold without storage, insurance, or security costs.
Highly liquid and easy to trade on major exchanges.
Effective portfolio diversifier and traditional inflation hedge.

Risks & Weaknesses

Expense ratio of 0.40% is higher than modern competitors like GLDM or IAU.
Gold produces no yield, dividends, or interest income.
In the U.S., it is taxed as a collectible (up to 28% max long-term capital gains rate).

Alternatives Comparison

ETF	Name	TER	Focus
GLDThis Week	SPDR Gold Shares	0.40%	Provides investors with a convenient and cost-effective way to track the price of physical gold.
GLDM	SPDR Gold MiniShares	0.10%	Lower cost version of GLD, better for long-term holding
IAU	iShares Gold Trust	0.25%	iShares equivalent with lower expense ratio

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, GLD holds physical gold bullion in secure vaults (primarily in London). The price of the ETF is designed to track the spot price of gold minus the fund's expenses.

GLDM is a 'mini' version created by the same issuer but with a much lower expense ratio (0.10% vs 0.40%). GLD is better for active traders needing extreme liquidity, while GLDM is far superior for long-term buy-and-hold investors due to the fee savings.

No. Physical commodities do not generate cash flows, so GLD does not pay dividends. Your return is entirely dependent on price appreciation.

Want to Explore Further?

GLD launched recently, so try backtesting SMH or SOXX as semiconductor proxies, or explore our ETF database for alternatives.

Backtest SMH + SOXX ETF Explorer

Disclaimer: ETF of the Week is educational content only. It is not investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell, or an endorsement of any fund. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor before investing.