iShares Gold Trust (IAU) Holdings & Expense Ratio

For informational purposes only. Not financial advice.

Quick Answer

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a last stored price of $77.66, as of the Oct 8, 2026 trading session. It has a 0.25% expense ratio and $64.9B in assets under management.

In the stored portfolio snapshot, the largest sector allocation is Cash & Others at 100.0%.

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF — Price, Holdings & Analysis

ETF Overview

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) employs a direct investment strategy, holding physical gold bullion to track the daily performance of gold prices. Unlike ETFs that invest in gold mining companies or gold futures contracts, IAU provides investors with exposure to the underlying commodity itself. The fund's structure as a trust means that each share represents a fractional, undivided interest in the net assets of the Trust, which consist primarily of physical gold held in a vault. This approach is reflected in its sector allocation, where 'Cash & Others' at 100.0% signifies its direct holdings in the precious metal rather than traditional equity or fixed-income assets. The fund's objective is not to generate income through dividends, but rather to provide capital appreciation tied directly to the price movements of gold bullion, making it a pure-play option for commodity exposure.

Risk Metrics

The risk profile of the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is largely concentrated, as the fund invests 100% in physical gold bullion. This singular focus means that IAU's performance is almost entirely dependent on the price fluctuations of gold, exposing investors to significant commodity-specific risk. There is no diversification within the fund itself across different asset classes or sectors; its entire value is tied to one precious metal. The fund's 3-year Beta of 0.41 indicates a lower correlation and volatility relative to the broader market, suggesting it may act as a diversifier during certain market conditions. However, this low beta does not negate the inherent volatility of commodity prices, which can be influenced by global economic data, geopolitical events, interest rate changes, and currency movements. Furthermore, the expense ratio of 0.25% represents an ongoing cost that will incrementally reduce the fund's net asset value over time, acting as a drag on returns regardless of gold's performance. Investors should be aware that while gold can offer unique portfolio benefits, IAU carries the specific risks associated with a highly concentrated, single-commodity investment.

Beta: 0.41

Expense Ratio

0.25%

How Is the Fund Allocated?

Sector	Weight
Cash & Others	100.0%

Dividend Yield

0.00%

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) — 0.40% expense ratio
ProShares - UltraShort Silver (ZSL) — 0.95% expense ratio
iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) — 0.75% expense ratio
ProShares - UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas (KOLD) — 0.95% expense ratio
UBS AG ETRACS Crude Oil Shares Covered Call ETNs due April 24, 2037 (USOI) — 0.85% expense ratio

iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) (Fixed Income) — 0.49% expense ratio
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) (Fixed Income) — 0.15% expense ratio
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) (Equity) — 0.32% expense ratio
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) (Equity) — 0.72% expense ratio
iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) (Equity) — 0.59% expense ratio
iShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETF (USCL) (Equity) — 0.08% expense ratio

Questions & Answers

What is IAU and what does it track?

IAU, the iShares Gold Trust, is an exchange-traded fund launched on January 21, 2005, by iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. Its primary objective is to track the daily performance of the price of gold bullion.

The fund achieves this by holding physical gold, providing investors with direct exposure to the commodity market's precious metals segment.

What is the expense ratio for IAU?

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has an expense ratio of 0.25%.

This fee is charged annually as a percentage of the fund's assets and covers the operational costs associated with managing the trust, including storage and insurance for the physical gold. Compared to a typical commodity ETF category average of 0.44%, IAU's expense ratio is notably competitive.

What are the top holdings in IAU?

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) does not hold traditional securities like stocks or bonds. Instead, its holdings consist entirely of physical gold bullion.

The fund's sector allocation data reflects this, showing 'Cash & Others' at 100.0%, which in this context represents the gold held in secure vaults.

Is IAU a good long-term investment?

Evaluating IAU as a long-term investment depends on an investor's specific financial goals and risk tolerance.

As a pure-play gold ETF, IAU offers direct exposure to gold, which historically has been considered a store of value and a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.

How does IAU compare to similar ETFs?

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) stands out among similar ETFs primarily due to its substantial size and direct physical gold backing. With $64.93 billion in AUM, it is one of the largest and most liquid gold ETFs available.

Its expense ratio of 0.25% is competitive, often lower than some other physically-backed gold trusts.

Does IAU pay dividends?

No, the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) does not pay dividends. Its dividend yield is 0.00%. This is because the fund invests directly in physical gold bullion, which is a non-income-generating asset.

Gold itself does not produce earnings or interest, unlike stocks or bonds. Therefore, investors in IAU should not expect any dividend distributions; their returns will solely be based on the appreciation or depreciation of the price of gold.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.

Data provided for informational purposes only.

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