Gold ETFs are exchange-traded funds that aim to track the physical price of gold without having investors directly buy and store physical gold.
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These are the best gold ETFs based on year-to-date (YTD) performance for 2024.
| Logo | ETF name and ticker | ETF description | Expense ratio | YTD return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM) | GLDM is a SPDR ETF that tracks the performance of the price of gold bullion. | 0.10% | 8.79% |
 | iShares Gold Trust Micro ETF of Benef Interest (IAUM) | Touted as the lowest-cost physical gold ETF currently on the market, IAUM is an iShares ETF that reflects the performance of the price of gold. | 0.09% | 8.79% |
 | GraniteShares Gold Shares (BAR) | BAR is a GraniteShares ETF, offering investors exposure to the price performance of physical gold. | 0.17% | 8.75% |
 | Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) | AAAU is a Goldman Sachs ETF, offering investors exposure to the performance of the price of gold. | 0.18% | 8.71% |
 | Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL) | FGDL is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide exposure to responsibly sourced gold investments. | 0.15% | 8.70% |
Gold ETFs are funds that aim to track the price performance of gold or the performance of companies involved in the gold mining industry. A gold ETF’s value goes up or down based on the price of physical gold or company stock value.
Unlike individual gold stocks, gold mining ETFs expose you to a variety of companies through a single purchase. Unlike physical gold, gold ETFs that track the metal’s price performance expose investors to gold without them needing to store the physical metal itself.
"ETFs present a convenient, cost-effective way to invest in gold without the burden of having to store the physical metal yourself. And with gold prices near $2,000 an ounce, ETFs also offer flexibility for investors who don’t have a lot of money but who want exposure to this precious metal."
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