Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Gold Investments Gold 6 Best Gold ETFs to Watch in 2025 Updated May 19, 2025 9-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Marc Guberti, CFPC® Written by Marc Guberti, CFPC® Expertise: investing, loans, credit cards, personal finance, banking, business financing Learn more about Marc Guberti, CFPC® Reviewed by Eric Kirste, CFP® Reviewed by Eric Kirste, CFP® Expertise: Debt management, tax planning, college planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, estate planning, investment planning, budgeting, comprehensive financial planning Eric Kirste CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, is a founding principal wealth manager for Savvy Wealth. Eric brings 22 years of wealth management experience working with clients, families, and their businesses, and serving in different leadership capacities. Learn more about Eric Kirste, CFP® The stock market hasn’t been off to the best start in 2025. Major indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are down to start the year, but gold ETFs have defied the trend. Gold has soared year-to-date, and investors who loaded up on gold ETFs before the new year are certainly happy with their decision. It’s not too late to capitalize on the timeless resource, and this guide will reveal six of the best gold ETFs to watch. ETFTypeYTD return5-yr. annualized returnExpense ratioiShares Gold Trust (IAU)Physical gold bullion19.5%12.6%0.25%SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)Gold bullion19.5%12.5%0.40%VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX)Gold mining companies28.9%6.7%0.51%iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners (RING)Gold mining companies30.0%7.2%0.39%Direxion Daily Gold Miners 2X (NUGT)Leveraged gold mining ETF53.0%-3.8%1.13%Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM)Gold mining companies32.9%5.8%0.50% Table of Contents What to know before investing in gold ETFs 1. iShares Gold Trust (IAU) 2. SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) 3. VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) 4. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) 5. Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X Shares (NUGT) 6. Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) FAQ What to know before investing in gold ETFs Gold is a precious metal that acts as an inflation hedge. This asset performs well when inflation rises and interest rates drop. It’s also useful in various industries, such as jewelry, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, are baskets of assets, such as stocks or commodities, that you can buy and sell like regular stocks. Gold ETFs give you exposure to gold without needing to own the physical metal. Some gold ETFs strictly follow the price of gold, while other gold ETFs accumulate shares in gold mining companies. Gold mining ETFs will have different results than those that only track the price of gold. If you buy an ETF that follows gold miners, you must consider the financial performance of each company. Gold usually generates its highest returns during economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The precious metal has been coveted by societies for thousands of years, and its intrinsic value will never go away. While governments continue to print cash and reduce the purchasing power of fiat currency, gold’s functionality and limited supply are strong selling points. Gold ETF glossary This guide contains some of the top gold ETFs to consider. Here are several quick definitions you should know first: Issuer: The financial firm that owns and manages the ETF. Type: Physical gold bullion is the precious metal, while gold mining companies are businesses that benefit from extracting and selling gold. Top holdings: This section refers to the top three stocks or other assets in an ETF. Inception date: The first day the ETF was available for trading. 2025 YTD performance: How well the ETF has performed this year, expressed as a percentage of return. Five-year annualized return: How much you would have made each year, expressed as a percentage, if you held the ETF for five years. Expense ratio: The cost of holding shares in an ETF. (The lower, the better.) Assets under management (AUM): The combined assets investors have put into the ETF that the fund managers allocate across shares. It’s important to assess your risk tolerance and long-term financial goals before buying gold ETFs. Furthermore, you should look for gold ETFs with low expense ratios, good asset allocation, and a history of positive long-term returns. Read more: Physical Gold vs. Gold ETFs: Which Is the Better Investment in 2025 and Beyond? 1. iShares Gold Trust (IAU) Direct Exposure to Gold Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) gives investors direct exposure to gold. You don’t need to worry about how gold mining companies perform or any financial variations. If gold rises by 10%, IAU will also go up by 10%. However, this fund does not produce cash flow for its investors. To take advantage of this ETF’s gains, you will need to sell shares. About IAU Issuer: BlackRock Type: Physical gold bullion Top holdings: Gold (100%) Inception date: January 1, 2025 2025 YTD performance: 19.5% Five-year annualized return: 12.6% Expense ratio: 0.25% AUM: $45.2 billion This information is accurate as of May 2025. 2. SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) Direct Exposure to Gold Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD) has a large AUM, contributing to a lower expense ratio than most gold ETFs. It offers direct exposure to gold and doesn’t fluctuate based on how gold mining companies perform. However, like IAU, this gold ETF does not distribute cash to its investors. About GLD Issuer: SPDR Type: Gold bullion Top holdings: Gold (100%) Inception date: December 13, 2007 2025 YTD performance: 19.5% Five-year annualized return: 12.5% Expense ratio: 0.4% AUM: $95.6 billion This information is accurate as of May 2025. 3. VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) Tied to Gold Miners Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has cruised past the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite with more than 25% in year-to-date gains. This fund is tied to gold miners’ financials instead of just physical gold. Financial risk makes it so that this fund won’t always outperform physical gold, but it’s performed well this year. The fund has a 0.76% 30-day SEC yield, so you will earn cash distributions just for holding your shares. About GDX Issuer: VanEck Type: Gold mining companies Top holdings: Newmont (11.9%), Agnico Eagle Mines (11.3%), and Wheaton Precious Metals (7.5%) Inception date: May 16, 2006 2025 YTD performance: 28.9% Five-year annualized return: 6.7% Expense ratio: 0.51% AUM: $13.8 billion This information is accurate as of May 2025. 4. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) Tracks Gold Mining Companies Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) is similar to GDX. It’s returned about 30% year to date, which is more than the broader market. It’s good to note that RING’s top three holdings make up a larger portion of total assets than GDX’s top three positions. Most gold mining ETFs are top-heavy due to their limited options. Furthermore, RING has a more attractive 0.91% 30-day SEC yield. You don’t need to sell shares to earn cash. About RING Issuer: BlackRock Type: Gold mining companies Top holdings: Newmont (17.3%), Agnico Eagle Mines (15.9%), and Barrick Gold (9.3%) Inception date: January 31, 2012 2025 YTD performance: 30.0% Five-year annualized return: 7.2% Expense ratio: 0.39% AUM: $1.3 billion This information is accurate as of May 2025. 5. Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X Shares (NUGT) Short-Term Investment Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X Shares ETF (NUGT) is the top performer on this list year to date, with gains over 50%. It aims to deliver twice the daily return of a gold miners index, meaning if the index rises 1% in a day, this fund is designed to rise 2%. That leverage can supercharge gains in a bull market, but it also magnifies losses. Because the fund resets daily, returns can quickly swing in the opposite direction over time. It’s best suited for short-term traders, not long-term investors. (The fund’s 27% plunge over the last five years demonstrates what is more likely to happen if you try to buy and hold NUGT.) About NUGT Issuer: Direxion Type: Leveraged gold mining ETF Top holdings: Leveraged NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index Inception date: December 8, 2010 2025 YTD performance: 53% Five-year annualized return: -3.8% Expense ratio: 1.13% AUM: $422.3 million This information is accurate as of May 2025. I urge my clients to align gold’s role—long-term hedge or short-term tactic—with their goals and risk tolerance. A modest gold allocation enhances diversification, as its low correlation with equities and bonds can help stabilize portfolios during periods of market volatility. Eric Kirste , CFP®, CIMA®, AIF® 6. Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) Top-Performing Gold Mining ETF Visit Site Why it’s one of the best The Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM) is the top-performing gold mining ETF on this list. It’s up by more than 30% year-to-date, but it comes with a high expense ratio. The fund allocates more than 30% of its assets to the top three holdings. About SGDM Issuer: Sprott Type: Gold mining companies Top holdings: Newmont (12.9%), Agnico Eagle Mines (12.3%), and Wheaton Precious Metals (9.0%) Inception date: July 14, 2014 2025 YTD performance: 32.9% Five-year annualized return: 5.8% Expense ratio: 0.50% AUM: $343.5 million This information is accurate as of May 2025. Gold ETFs can serve as a hedge during inflation or market volatility, but their effectiveness varies with economic conditions. For instance, in 2023, despite high inflation, gold ETFs underperformed due to rising interest rates. Historically, gold offers diversification benefits, but its performance isn’t consistent across all inflationary periods. Eric Kirste , CFP®, CIMA®, AIF® FAQ Which gold ETF gives the highest return? As of May 2025, the Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X Shares (NUGT) has the highest year-to-date return at 53%. However, it’s a leveraged ETF designed for short-term trading and comes with higher risk. Over five years, iShares Gold Trust (IAU) leads with a 12.6% annualized return. What is the best ETF to buy for gold? That depends on your investing goals. For direct exposure to gold’s price, IAU or GLD are popular low-cost options. For more aggressive investors seeking higher returns (and higher risk), gold mining ETFs like RING or GDX may be more appealing. What gold ETF pays the most dividends? Gold bullion ETFs like IAU and GLD don’t pay dividends. Among mining ETFs, iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) currently has the highest 30-day SEC yield at 0.91%, followed by GDX. Is GLD 100% backed by gold? Yes, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is physically backed by gold bullion. Each share represents a fraction of actual gold held in trust, stored in secured vaults. It does not rely on futures or derivatives. Is a gold ETF better than buying physical gold? Gold ETFs offer liquidity, easier storage, and lower costs. Physical gold may appeal to those who value tangible assets or want to hedge against financial system risks. ETFs are generally better for most modern investors. (See our full resource on physical gold versus gold ETFs for more.)