Gldm vs IAU better buy?
7/2/2025 10:18am
The decision between GLDM and IAU as the better buy for investing in gold ETFs depends on several factors, including expense ratio, asset size, performance, and investor goals. Here's a comparison to help you decide:
1. **Expense Ratio**:
- GLDM has an expense ratio of 0.10%, while IAU has a slightly higher expense ratio of 0.25%.
- IAU has a lower expense ratio, which could be more cost-effective for long-term investors.
2. **Asset Size and Trading Volume**:
- GLDM has a significantly larger asset base with over $14.9 billion in net assets, compared to IAU's $2.7 billion.
- GLDM is structured to have a lower share price than GLD, making it more accessible to small investors.
3. **Performance**:
- GLDM has a year-to-date return of 12.39% and a one-year return of 19.68%, slightly outperforming IAU's year-to-date return of 12.35% and one-year return of 19.55%.
- In the past three months, GLDM saw net inflows of $110 million, indicating strong investor demand.
4. **Risk and Diversification**:
- The correlation between GLDM and IAU is 0.07, which is considered low, suggesting that their price changes are not closely related.
- This low correlation can be beneficial for portfolio diversification, as it helps spread risk across different assets.
5. **Investor Considerations**:
- IAU is part of the iShares family and is owned and managed by BlackRock, which may appeal to investors looking for a well-established brand.
- GLDM, being part of the SPDR family, offers a lower share price and may be more accessible to investors with smaller budgets.
In conclusion, if cost is a primary concern and you are looking for the lowest expense ratio, IAU might be the better choice. However, if you prefer a larger asset base, slightly higher performance, and lower share price, GLDM could be the better buy. It's important to consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and portfolio composition when making this decision.