How do the fees of GLD and SGOL compare?

GLD charges 0.40% and SGOL charges 0.17%. On a $10,000 holding that is about $40 a year for GLD and $17 for SGOL, a difference of roughly $23 every year. Because both track the same gold price, the fee is one of the few factors that separates their long-run returns.

What does each fund hold?

Both are commodity trusts that hold physical gold bullion in secure vaults and track the LBMA Gold Price. Neither holds company shares, so neither is an index fund of stocks. GLD is issued by State Street and SGOL by abrdn. Each share represents a claim on a fixed, slowly declining amount of gold.

Do GLD and SGOL overlap?

In terms of exposure they are almost identical, since both hold only gold bullion benchmarked to the same LBMA price. There are no stock holdings to compare. The practical differences are the expense ratio, fund size, trading volume and the custodian and vault arrangements each trust uses.

Do GLD or SGOL pay dividends?

No. Gold produces no income, so neither trust pays a dividend. Returns come only from changes in the gold price, minus the expense ratio. Investors seeking income from precious metals exposure would need to look at gold mining equity funds instead, which carry different risks.

Which fund suits which goal?

GLD suits investors who trade frequently or in large size and value the deepest liquidity in the gold ETF market. SGOL suits buy-and-hold investors who want the same gold exposure and prefer to keep ongoing costs low. For small, long-term positions the lower fee usually matters more than trading volume.

How do size and liquidity compare?

GLD is about $147.75 billion in net assets and is one of the most traded ETFs in the world. SGOL is much smaller at roughly $7.43 billion but is still a well-established fund with adequate liquidity for retail investors. Spreads on SGOL can be a little wider during volatile sessions.

Why do two gold trusts have such different fees?

GLD launched in 2004 as the first major US gold ETF and kept its original 0.40% fee, relying on scale and liquidity to attract traders. SGOL launched in 2009 and competes on cost at 0.17%. Both pay storage, insurance and administration expenses, so a lower fee means a leaner cost structure, not less gold.

Can I hold both GLD and SGOL?

Yes, but there is little reason to for exposure purposes, since both track the same gold price. Some investors hold both across accounts, or use one for trading and the other for a long-term core position. Splitting a position does not add diversification because the underlying asset is identical.

Are there tax or account differences?

Both are physical gold trusts, and in some countries gains on such trusts are taxed differently from stock ETFs, for example as collectibles. Since the structures are similar, tax treatment is usually the same for both. Check how your local rules and account wrapper treat US-listed commodity trusts.

Does either fund track the gold price perfectly?

No. Each trust sells a small amount of gold to pay its expenses, so the gold per share declines slowly and the fund lags spot gold by roughly its expense ratio each year. GLD's 0.40% fee creates a larger gap than SGOL's 0.17%. Short-term trading can also move the share price slightly from the metal's value.

GLD vs SGOL

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

GLD and SGOL both hold physical gold bullion and track the LBMA Gold Price, but GLD charges a 0.40% expense ratio while SGOL charges 0.17%, a gap of about $23 a year per $10,000. GLD suits investors who value the largest and most traded gold trust at $147.75 billion, and SGOL suits long-term holders who want the same metal exposure at a lower ongoing cost. Educational content, not financial advice.

GLD and SGOL both hold physical gold bullion and track the LBMA Gold Price, but GLD charges a 0.40% expense ratio while SGOL charges 0.17%, a gap of about $23 a year per $10,000. GLD suits investors w...

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

GLD

Metric

SGOL

0.40%

Expense Ratio

0.17%

–

Dividend Yield

–

$147.75B

Net Assets

$7.43B

–

Holdings

–

Nov 18, 2004

Inception Date

Sep 9, 2009

LBMA Gold Price

Index Tracked

LBMA Gold Price

Commodities Focused

Fund Category

Commodities Focused

SGOL costs about $23.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

These funds do not share any of their top holdings.

Why It’s Moving

Gold ETF GLD Faces Pressure as Hawkish Fed Signals and Strong Dollar Test Critical Support

Hawkish monetary policy expectations and a rally in the U.S. dollar drove spot gold below $4,300 an ounce, directly impacting GLD's performance as investors repriced rate hike bets.
Stronger-than-expected September flash S&P Composite PMI data at 58.4 signaled robust services sector activity, reducing immediate safe-haven demand and pressuring precious metals.
Despite near-term volatility, institutional forecasts highlight limited downside risk with TD Securities projecting a move above $5,000 and Goldman Sachs citing undisclosed sovereign buying, particularly from China, as a key long-term driver.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

Gold ETF GLD Faces Pressure as Hawkish Fed Signals and Strong Dollar Test Critical Support

Hawkish monetary policy expectations and a rally in the U.S. dollar drove spot gold below $4,300 an ounce, directly impacting GLD's performance as investors repriced rate hike bets.
Stronger-than-expected September flash S&P Composite PMI data at 58.4 signaled robust services sector activity, reducing immediate safe-haven demand and pressuring precious metals.
Despite near-term volatility, institutional forecasts highlight limited downside risk with TD Securities projecting a move above $5,000 and Goldman Sachs citing undisclosed sovereign buying, particularly from China, as a key long-term driver.

Sentiment:

🐻Bearish

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Investment Analysis

GLD

Pros

Largest gold trust of the pair at about $147.75 billion in net assets
Trading since November 2004, the longest record among US gold ETFs
Very high trading volume, which helps large or frequent traders

Considerations

Higher 0.40% expense ratio, more than double SGOL's 0.17%
Costs about $40 a year per $10,000 versus $17 for SGOL
Fee drag compounds over long holding periods for buy-and-hold investors

SGOL

Pros

Lower 0.17% expense ratio, about $23 cheaper per $10,000 each year
Tracks the same LBMA Gold Price with allocated physical bullion
Established fund with about $7.43 billion in assets since 2009

Considerations

Much smaller than GLD, at roughly one twentieth of its asset base
Lower trading volume can mean slightly wider spreads on large orders
Pays no dividend, like every physical gold trust

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About GLD and SGOL

GLD (GLD)

SPDR Gold Shares (ticker GLD) is a large, liquid exchange-traded fund that aims to reflect the price of gold bullion. It holds allocated physical gold stored in secure vaults and offers investors an efficient way to gain exposure to the gold price without owning metal directly. With a market capitalisation around $51.72 billion, GLD is commonly used for portfolio diversification, inflation hedging and as a store of value during market stress. The fund does not pay dividends; returns depend on changes in the gold price less management fees and operating costs. Investors should be aware of price volatility, potential tracking differences and jurisdictional tax rules that can differ from equities. GLD may suit investors seeking straightforward commodity exposure within brokerage accounts, but it is not appropriate for those seeking income. This summary is educational only and not personalised investment advice — consider your objectives and risk tolerance and seek professional guidance if needed.

SGOL (SGOL)

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Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

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An unprecedented criminal probe into the Federal Reserve Chair has sparked a flight to safety, driving gold prices to record highs. This theme focuses on gold miners and related companies that stand to benefit from sustained demand for this safe-haven asset.

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GLD vs SGOL

Fund Snapshot

Why It’s Moving

Gold ETF GLD Faces Pressure as Hawkish Fed Signals and Strong Dollar Test Critical Support

Gold ETF GLD Faces Pressure as Hawkish Fed Signals and Strong Dollar Test Critical Support