Top Gold-Backed ETFs: Physically Secured Gold Funds

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), launched in 2004, was the first U.S.-listed ETF backed by a physical asset — gold. Since then, the gold-backed ETF market has expanded to include funds from BlackRock, VanEck, Goldman Sachs, and others, all structured to hold actual bullion in secure vaults on behalf of shareholders.

Physically backed gold ETFs are typically organized as grantor trusts. Each share represents a fractional interest in gold stored with custodians such as JPMorgan Chase and HSBC in vaults across London, New York, and Zurich. Prices closely track the LBMA Gold Price, avoiding the roll costs and tracking issues that come with futures-based products. These funds do not pay dividends — the IRS treats physical gold as a “collectible,” meaning long-term capital gains are taxed at a maximum rate of 28%.

Notable gold-backed ETFs include:

• SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): The largest and oldest gold ETF, where one share represents 1/10th of an ounce. Gold is audited twice a year by Bureau Veritas and held in allocated accounts.
• iShares Gold Trust (IAU): Managed by BlackRock and launched in 2005, with gold stored in JPMorgan vaults in the U.S. and London.
• SPDR Gold MiniShares (GLDM): A lower-cost sibling of GLD listed on NYSE Arca since 2018, where each share was designed to represent one-fiftieth of an ounce of gold.
• abrdn Physical Gold Shares (SGOL): Stores gold in Swiss vaults and publishes serial numbers of its bars. SGOL holds only London Good Delivery bars refined on or after January 1, 2012, meeting LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance.
• VanEck Merk Gold ETF (OUNZ): Unique among gold-backed ETFs in offering investors the option to take physical delivery of gold — a process that is not treated as a taxable event.
• GraniteShares Gold Trust (BAR): Known for its competitive fee structure and London-based storage.
• iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM): Launched by BlackRock in 2021, IAUM is currently the most affordable spot gold ETF on U.S. exchanges.
• Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU): Goldman’s physically backed offering, with a ticker that nods to gold’s chemical symbol, Au.

If you’re also interested in gold mining and producer stocks, those provide a different type of exposure — tied to company operations rather than the spot price of gold. For broader commodity fund coverage, see our complete list of commodity ETFs or explore precious metals funds.

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The table below shows our curated selection of top gold-backed ETFs, with live pricing and performance data updated automatically.