IAU ETF — iShares Gold Trust

iShares Gold Trust (IAU)

IAU is an ETF that tracks the LBMA Gold Price. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 0.00%, its expense ratio is 0.25%. Fund total return is 857.0% over the past 21.6 years, 11.6 points behind SPY at 868.6%.

iShares Gold Trust is an ETF that provides exposure to the price of physical gold bullion, offering a simple alternative to owning gold directly while avoiding the costs and complications of storage, insurance, and assay. The fund does not distribute income to shareholders and carries an expense ratio of 0.25%. It appeals to investors seeking commodity exposure or portfolio diversification through gold without the logistics of physical ownership.

IAU performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 857.0% over the past 21.6 years, 11.6 points behind SPY at 868.6%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 26.4%.

IAU key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Commodity

Inception date

01/21/2005

Expense ratio

0.25%

Distribution rate

0.00%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$81.71

AUM

$64,434,122,629

Market cap

$85,441,110,016

Average volume

3100657.0

Beta

0.36

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.00%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: iShares fund page; Fact sheet; Index: LBMA Gold Price; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

IAU risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 26.4%.

Who may consider IAU — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (IAU does not currently distribute); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Compare IAU

IAU vs similar funds:

• IAU vs GLD
• IAU vs IAUI

Frequently asked questions

More funds from iShares.