Dividend comparison

IAU vs SGOL: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Gold Trust and abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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IAU vs SGOL: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. SGOL is cheaper at 0.17% a year versus 0.25% for IAU. On $10,000 that is $8 a year less in fees.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, SGOL returned 128.8% versus 127.9% for IAU, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $22,884 in SGOL and $22,790 in IAU.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -26.4% for IAU and -26.3% for SGOL from peak to trough.
  • Size. IAU is the larger fund with $61.7 billion in assets, against $7.1 billion for SGOL.

Bottom line: SGOL has the edge on these figures, with lower fees. IAU does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricIAU
iShares Gold Trust
SGOL
abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF
Price$77.44$39.20
Beta0.410.40
Max drawdown (5Y)-26.4%-26.3%
Market cap$62.03B$7.15B
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.25%0.17%
Assets under management$61.73B$7.08B
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

IAU

—/mo

Yield data unavailable

SGOL

—/mo

Yield data unavailable

Strategy: Precious metals
Funds that hold physical gold or silver in vaults, or the companies that mine it. Physical-metal funds that hold the same bullion differ mainly in fee, share price and trading liquidity, while miner funds behave like leveraged equity bets on the metal price. None of them pay a dividend from the metal itself.

Metal prices can fall for years with no income to cushion the decline, and gains in physical-metal funds can be taxed at the higher collectibles rate in the US.

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $22,790 in IAU and $22,884 in SGOL.
PeriodIAUSGOL
1 month-5.83%-5.86%
3 months2.77%2.73%
Year to date-4.60%-4.58%
1 year-6.13%-6.09%
3 years106.67%106.97%
5 years127.90%128.84%
  • IAU
  • SGOL
77188299202120222023202420252026228229

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • IAU
  • SGOL
0%25%50%75%100%Cash & Others100.0%Real Estate100.0%

Quick verdict

SGOL has the edge on these figures, with lower fees. IAU does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is IAU or SGOL better for dividend income?
Compare yield, payout sustainability, and how each fund or stock fits your income goals. Use Dividend Wealth to model both holdings inside a real portfolio forecast.
What is the difference between IAU and SGOL?
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is an ETF listed on AMEX. abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, IAU or SGOL?
SGOL has the lower expense ratio. IAU charges 0.25% a year and SGOL charges 0.17%, a difference of $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, IAU or SGOL?
Over the last 5 years, SGOL has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: IAU returned 127.9% and SGOL returned 128.8%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, IAU or SGOL?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, IAU has been riskier: IAU fell as much as 26.4% and SGOL as much as 26.3%. Their betas are 0.41 and 0.40.
Can I hold both IAU and SGOL?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare IAU vs SGOL with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how IAU and SGOL fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.