What is IAU?

IAU tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in vaults around the world.

PERFORMANCE [as of 03/17/23] 1 MONTH 3 MONTHS YTD 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
IAU 7.33% 10.26% 8.38% 1.74% 8.67% 8.24% 1.93%
IAU (NAV) 6.96% 9.38% 8.20% 0.38% 8.22% 8.13% 1.83%
LBMA Gold Price PM 6.99% 9.46% -- 0.64% 8.49% 8.41% 2.09%
LBMA Gold Price PM 6.99% 9.46% -- 0.64% 8.49% 8.41% 2.09%
All returns over 1 year are annualized. All returns are total returns unless otherwise stated.

IAU Factset Analytics Insight

IAU is an efficient way for investors to hold physical gold. The fund removes the complexities for retail investors of buying, transporting, storing and insuring physical gold. Using a grantor trust structure, the fund is a very stable fund. The underlying gold bars are held in vaults around the world, with an inventory list available on the Issuers website. Similar to its competitor, GLD, investors should know that long-term gains have noteworthy tax liabilities, since IAU is considered a collectible. The daily NAV of the trust is based on that day’s LBMA Gold Price PM. Where IAU shines for buy-and-hold retail investors is its lower handle and low expense ratio. At launch, shares of IAU corresponded to 1/100th of an ounce of gold (though this will decrease over time due to expenses). The fund is a solid choice for gold investors.

IAU Summary Data

Blackrock
01/21/05
0.25%
$27.24B
LBMA Gold Price PM
LBMA Gold Price PM
Grantor Trust

Peers

LBMA Gold Price PM

Fund Flows

+$0.02B 5 Days
-$0.73B 30 Days
-$0.80B 90 Days

IAU Portfolio Data

Physically Held
Physically Held
N/A
--

IAU Index Data

LBMA Gold Price PM
Single Asset
Single Asset
LBMA Gold Price PM

IAU Portfolio Management

0.25%
-0.25%
-0.21%
-0.31%

IAU Tax Exposures

28.00% / 39.60%
--
No

IAU Fund Structure

Grantor Trust
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
Low
Daily

Factset Analytics Block Liquidity

As of 03/20/23

This measurement shows how easy it is to trade a $1 million USD block of IAU. IAU is rated a 5 out of 5.

IAU Tradability

5,133,904
$183.41M
4,314,545
$155.14M
0.03%
$0.01
-0.06%
1.98% / -2.62%
None
100.00%
50,000
86.29
0.03%
--
59,762
$37.20
5

IAU Top 10 Targeted Commodity Weights

100.00%
100.00%

IAU Performance Statistics

1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.00%

IAU Tenor Strategy

IAU holds physical bullion. Prices will reflect the current spot market values.

IAU Rolling Strategy

Since IAU holds physical bullion rather than futures contracts, it does not have a roll strategy.