GLD vs SGOL
SPDR Gold Shares vs abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF
Which is better, GLD or SGOL?
Nearly the same fund. SGOL costs less.
SGOL has a lower expense ratio. SGOL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GLD | SGOL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.17%Best |
| AUM | $146.4B | $7.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 1 | 1 |
| YTD Return | -1.64% | -1.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.36% | +15.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.79% | +30.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.02% | +19.27%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8%Tie | 16.8%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -45.6% | -45.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,884 | $24,135Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Aberdeen |
| Category | Commodity | Commodity |
| Style | Gold | Gold |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2004 | Sep 9, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2009 to Sep 16, 2026 (17 years).
GLD vs SGOL growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 17 years both funds cover.
GLD vs SGOL Performance
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) is an ETF from Aberdeen. Over the past year GLD returned +15.36% while SGOL returned +15.61%. Year to date, GLD is down 1.64% versus a loss of 1.50% for SGOL.
Over three years, GLD compounded at +29.79% per year against +30.09% for SGOL; over five years the annualized figures are +19.02% and +19.27% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SGOL has the edge at +8.66% annualized vs +8.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GLD and SGOL have been equally volatile, both at 16.8% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -45.6% for GLD and -45.5% for SGOL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GLD charges 0.40% per year while SGOL charges 0.17%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $17 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GLD currently yields 0.00% against 0.00% for SGOL.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GLD and SGOL you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GLD or SGOL?
GLD has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SGOL charges 0.17%. SGOL is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GLD or SGOL?
Over the past year GLD returned +15.36% vs +15.61% for SGOL, so SGOL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), GLD annualized +8.54% vs +8.66% for SGOL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GLD or SGOL?
GLD and SGOL have been equally volatile, both at 16.8% annualized. Worst drawdown: GLD -45.6% vs SGOL -45.5%.
Should I hold both GLD and SGOL?
GLD and SGOL have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, GLD or SGOL?
GLD yields 0.00% while SGOL yields 0.00%, so SGOL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SGOL better than GLD?
SGOL has a lower expense ratio. SGOL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.