Which Is The Best Performing Gold ETF?
Thursday, September 12th 2024
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) of gold is an investment vehicle traded on stock exchanges like individual stocks; designed to track its price as it moves, so investors gain exposure without owning physical gold. Gold ETFs have grown increasingly popular as a hedge against inflation (1), geopolitical unrest, and economic recession – however not all gold ETFs provide equal returns or suit all investors equally; in this post we’ll assess some of the top performing gold ETFs as well as assess their characteristics, performance, and suitability for specific investor types.
The Importance of Gold ETFs
Gold ETFs have grown increasingly popular as an investment vehicle due to several distinct advantages they provide investors with. First, they give exposure to the gold market without needing to store and insure physical gold; secondly they enable quick trades similar to trading stocks; thirdly and most significantly they diversify portfolios thus mitigating risk.
Gold ETFs have emerged as an attractive diversification option amid an ever-more-volatile global economy, due to their historic performance as “safe-haven assets”, making these ETFs attractive investments for many investors.
Key Factors in Assessing Gold ETFs
When choosing a gold ETF, several key considerations must be kept in mind. One such key element is performance history – usually assessed by comparing its returns against benchmarks such as gold prices – but other important components may include expense ratio (the costs associated with managing it), liquidity (how easily you can buy or sell shares of the ETF) and its holdings (whether physical gold or derivatives are held within its holdings).
Additionally, investors should assess the stability and reputation of the institution managing an ETF before investing. Larger, well-established fund managers tend to be better prepared to manage potential issues or crises with ease. Furthermore, depending on your jurisdiction tax implications for investing in gold ETFs can differ substantially, another factor worthy of careful consideration.
Overview of Top Performing Gold ETFs
Gold ETFs have consistently outperformed other gold funds on the market. Although past performance cannot guarantee future outcomes, an impressive track record could indicate an effective management team and fund:
- SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): SPDR Gold Shares was the largest and most frequently traded gold ETF. Designed to track the performance of gold bullion price fluctuations while being backed up with physical gold reserves, its expense ratio for an ETF such as this one is relatively low and has demonstrated consistent and reliable performance over its lifespan.
- iShares Gold Trust (IAU): iShares Gold Trust (2) is another popular and widely traded gold ETF that tracks gold’s price with physical holdings backed up. The expense ratio for IAU may appeal to more cost-conscious investors.
- GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR): While similar in purpose and strategy as the other two ETFs mentioned here, GraniteShares stands out due to its extremely low expense ratio – one of the lowest on the gold ETF market and it is also backed by physical gold reserves.
Evaluation of Top Gold ETFs
While each ETF has shown strong performance, their individual traits could make one better suited to specific investors than another.
- SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): As one of the world’s most-traded gold ETFs, GLD offers excellent liquidity allowing investors to quickly enter and exit its fund with minimal transaction costs. While its expense ratio may be slightly higher than other gold ETFs, its consistent solid performance more than makes up for any extra expenses associated with managing by State Street Global Advisors, an institutional presence.
- iShares Gold Trust (IAU): With its lower expense ratio compared to GLD and slightly reduced liquidity requirements compared to its peer, iShares Gold Trust may yield greater net returns over time. Managed by another top fund manager such as BlackRock with strong institutional backing behind them both.
- GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR): While not as large or frequently traded as GLD and IAU, BAR stands out with an exceptionally low expense ratio that makes it attractive to long-term investors concerned with costs. Like its peers, BAR’s assets are secured through physical gold backing adding further stability.
Tax Implications and Jurisdictional Considerations
Taxing gold ETFs can be complex and vary based on where investors reside; in the U.S. for instance, gold ETFs are classified as collectibles for taxation purposes resulting in potentially higher long-term capital gain tax rates compared with other investments options – an essential consideration when comparing net returns of these ETFs against others.
Investors from different jurisdictions could have different tax concerns. So, prior to investing in gold ETFs it’s advisable to get advice from an expert in financial planning or a tax professional.
Conclusion
While all three gold ETFs – SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR) have produced positive returns, which ETF is best for each investor will depend on individual needs and investment goals and risk tolerance considerations.
Not to be overlooked when investing in gold ETFs are their potential tax repercussions, which may have an enormous effect on returns from investing. As with all investment decisions, conducting thorough research and seeking professional advice as necessary are of utmost importance for successful decision-making processes. Gold ETFs may provide easy exposure to the gold market – however they should only ever form one part of an overall well-diversified investment portfolio.
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2 Comments
This list is pure gold!
Hi Jeff,
Thank you, I’m glad you like even though it is not financial advice!
Happy investing!