GLD Stock: SPDR Gold Shares Profile & Analysis (2026)
The world’s largest physically-backed gold ETF designed to track the spot price of gold bullion — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) represents the most liquid and widely recognized vehicle for investors to gain exposure to the price of gold without the logistical challenges of storing physical bars. Launched in 2004, GLD is a grantor trust that holds 100% of its assets in allocated gold bullion, typically stored in high-security vaults in London. For investors who also track silver markets, the SLV Stock Profile offers a similar structural approach for silver exposure.
While many traders utilize GLD as a tactical hedge against inflation or geopolitical uncertainty, others prefer the leverage potential found in the List Of Publicly Traded Precious Metal Mining Companies. However, GLD remains the gold standard for direct commodity price correlation, offering a seamless way to integrate gold into a traditional brokerage account alongside stocks and bonds.
Key Takeaways — GLD Stock
GLD holds physical gold bullion in allocated vaults, ensuring the fund is backed by tangible assets rather than futures contracts.
With nearly 20 million shares traded daily, GLD offers the tightest bid-ask spreads for large-scale gold institutional and retail trading.
The 0.40% expense ratio covers storage and insurance, though it is slightly higher than some low-cost competitors like IAU.
GLD tracks the LBMA Gold Price PM, serving as the primary proxy for the spot gold market in the United States.
GLD — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
GLD ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | SPDR Gold Shares | Ticker | GLD |
| Issuer | World Gold Council | Asset Class | Commodities Physical Gold |
| Index Tracked | LBMA Gold Price PM | Structure | Grantor Trust |
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | AUM | $172.7B |
| Inception Date | November 18, 2004 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | 2 | Dividend Yield | none |
| 52-Week High | $509.70 | 52-Week Low | $272.58 |
| Avg Daily Volume | 18.2M | YTD Return | 3.95% |
| 1-Year Return | 32.18% | 5-Year Return | 18.50% |
| Category | Precious Metals | Dividend Frequency | N/A |
GLD Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight. Click columns to sort.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOLD | Physical Gold Bullion | Commodity | 100.00% |
| 2 | CASH | Cash & Equivalents | Cash | 0.00% |
| 3 | IAU | iShares Gold Trust (Benchmark) | ETF | 0.25% |
| 4 | SGOL | abrdn Physical Gold Shares (Benchmark) | ETF | 0.17% |
| 5 | IAUM | iShares Gold Trust Micro (Benchmark) | ETF | 0.09% |
| 6 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 8 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
| 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.00% |
GLD — Pros & Cons
✓ Ease of Ownership
Eliminates the need for physical storage, insurance, and assaying of physical gold bars.
✗ Expense Ratio
At 0.40%, it is significantly more expensive than newer “micro” gold ETFs for long-term holders.
✓ Massive Liquidity
Ideal for institutional investors and day traders who require immediate execution with minimal slippage.
✗ Tax Treatment
The IRS treats GLD as a “collectible,” which can lead to higher long-term capital gains tax rates.
✓ Direct Tracking
Unlike mining stocks, GLD has a near-perfect correlation with the actual spot price of gold bullion.
✗ No Income
Gold is a non-productive asset; GLD pays no dividends and relies entirely on price appreciation.
Who Should Consider GLD?
Active traders and large institutional portfolios that value high liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads over the absolute lowest expense ratio.
Income-focused investors or those seeking the aggressive growth potential found in the GDX Stock Profile.
You want to hedge against dollar devaluation or market volatility but want the ability to sell your position instantly during market hours.
Tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs can be beneficial to avoid the complex collectible tax treatment associated with commodity trusts.
GLD vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLD ★ | SPDR Gold Shares | 0.40% | $172.7B | 2 | 0.00% | 3.95% | Institutional Liquidity |
| IAU | iShares Gold Trust | 0.25% | $30B+ | 2 | 0.00% | 3.91% | Buy-and-Hold |
| SGOL | abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 0.17% | $3B+ | 2 | 0.00% | 3.93% | Low-Cost Direct |
| IAUM | iShares Gold Trust Micro | 0.09% | $1B+ | 2 | 0.00% | 3.96% | Retail Long-term |
GLD Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
GLD — Risks & Considerations
Counterparty Risk
Investors rely on the custodian (HSBC) to accurately secure and report the gold holdings within the London vaults.
Commodity Volatility
Gold prices can be influenced by interest rates, central bank actions, and the strength of the US Dollar, leading to periods of high volatility.
Opportunity Cost
As a non-yielding asset, gold may underperform equities or fixed income during periods of high economic growth and rising interest rates.
Collectible Taxation
Selling GLD after one year may trigger a 28% capital gains tax rate, which is higher than the standard long-term rate for stocks.