Getting Started With Gold ETFs

Is It a Good Way to Invest in Gold?

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A gold ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a commodity ETF that consists of only one principal asset: gold. Exchange-traded funds act like individual stocks, and they trade on an exchange in the same manner.

However, the fund itself holds gold derivative contracts that are backed by gold. So, if you invest in a gold ETF, you won't actually own any gold.

Note

Even when you redeem a gold ETF, you do not receive the precious metal in any form. Instead, you as an investor will receive the cash equivalent.

The Investing Principle

Investors use gold ETFs to track and reflect the price of gold. While the assets in the fund are backed by the commodity, the intent is not for an investor to own gold.

A gold ETF gives an investor an opportunity to gain exposure to the performance, or price movements, of gold. 

How to Use Gold ETFs

Gold ETFs offer some of the same defensive-asset-class traits as bonds, and many investors use them to hedge against economic and political disruptions, as well as currency debasement.

Gold tends to rise when the dollar is weak, so if your investment portfolio holds assets that have risk exposure to the dollar’s downside, purchasing a gold ETF may help you hedge that exposure. Conversely, selling a gold ETF can act as a hedge if your portfolio has exposure to the upside.

A gold ETF is a commodity exchange-traded fund that can be used to hedge gold commodity risk or gain exposure to the fluctuations of gold itself. If an investor has increased risk on their portfolio assets when the price of gold rises, owning a gold ETF can help reduce risk in that position.

Or if after ample research, an experienced investor decides to short gold, trading an inverse gold ETF may be a simple way to benefit from falling gold prices.

Broader Uses

While gold is a commodity ETF, it can act as an industry ETF as well. For example, if an investor wants to gain exposure to the gold mining industry, owning a gold ETF may be an investment strategy that can fit his or her portfolio.

While other individual gold-mining stocks and precious metals indexes do exist, a gold ETF may be a simpler or more diverse way to make an investment in the gold mining industry. Certain benefits come with ETFs, making them a useful tool to have in one’s investment arsenal.

Gold ETFs can also be applied as a hedge for regional risk or to gain foreign exposure. If a certain country depends solely on gold as its main source of income, an investor with portfolio assets that have risk in that country can sell, or short a gold ETF as protection. So, if gold drops, the short ETF position can help lessen the investor's loss.

A Few Disadvantages

If you are seeking to actually own a gold asset, you cannot do so through a gold ETF. You never actually own a gold bar, bullion, or coins. Gold ETFs consist of gold contracts and derivatives and can only be redeemed for cash, never gold itself.

While ETFs in general have many tax benefits, gold can be classified as a "collectible" by the IRS, which can have tax consequences.

Note

Before diving in, ask a certified public accountant (CPA) how buying gold ETFs will affect your particular tax situation.

Most Popular Gold ETFs

You can explore many types of gold ETFs, but before you include them in your investment strategy consider watching the performance of a few of the more popular funds. See how they move and if it works for your portfolio needs. Once you have a better understanding of gold ETFs, you'll likely find it easier to get started investing in them.

The following represent some of the more well-known gold ETFs:

  • SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD)
  • iShares Gold Trust ETF (IAU)
  • Invesco DB Gold ETF (DGL)

A diverse variety of other gold and precious metal ETFs exist, if you choose to research additional gold ETF options.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Prospectus: Fund Summary – Strategy Shares Gold-Hedged Bond ETF."

  2. Internal Revenue Service. "Issue Snapshot - Investments in Collectibles in Individually-Directed Qualified Plan Accounts."

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