IAU vs VTI
iShares Gold Trust vs Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-10
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.25%. Launched in 2005, the fund has a 21-year track record.
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares (VTI) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to the total U.S. stock market across all capitalizations. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.13%. Launched in 2001, the fund has a 25-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VTI is significantly cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.25% expense ratio, saving you approximately $435 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, IAU has significantly outperformed with a 50.0% return vs 30.2%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
VTI Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 6.17% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 5.89% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 4.40% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 3.05% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.28% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 2.16% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 2.13% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 1.72% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc.BRK.B | 1.37% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VTI if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IAU if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.