SPDR Gold Shares

Frequently Asked Questions About GLD

What does GLD invest in?

The SPDR Gold Trust aims to mirror the market price movements of physical gold bullion, after deducting its operational expenses. This pioneering fund was the first gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) to be introduced in the U.S., and also the initial U.S.-listed ETF to be backed by a tangible asset. For a significant number of investors, the combined expenses of purchasing GLD shares on the secondary market and covering the Trust's continuous fees could be lower than the expenditures associated with directly acquiring, safeguarding, and insuring physical gold within a conventional allocated bullion account.

What is the expense ratio of GLD?

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) charges an expense ratio of 0.40%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations.

How big is GLD?

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) manages $149.07B in total assets. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure — funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation.

Is GLD actively managed or an index fund?

GLD's management style is described in the fund's prospectus. See the description on the Summary tab for the published strategy.

When was GLD launched?

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) launched in November 2004 and is managed by SPDR.

How has GLD performed?

GLD's total return — price change plus reinvested distributions — is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon.