iShares Gold Trust

Frequently Asked Questions About IAU

What does IAU invest in?

iShares Gold Trust is an exchange traded fund launched and managed by iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The fund invests in the commodity markets. It seeks to invest in gold. The fund seeks to track the daily performance of the price of gold bullion. iShares Gold Trust was formed on January 21, 2005 and is domiciled in the United States.

What is the expense ratio of IAU?

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) charges an expense ratio of 0.25%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations.

How big is IAU?

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) manages $65.41B 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 IAU actively managed or an index fund?

IAU is a passive index fund — it tracks a published benchmark by holding the constituents in their published weights. Index funds typically charge low expense ratios (IAU's is 0.25%) because there's no security selection cost.

When was IAU launched?

iShares Gold Trust (IAU) launched in January 2005 and is managed by IShares.

How has IAU performed?

IAU'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.