IAU vs XLK
iShares Gold Trust vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
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.
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to us sector - technology securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.54%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLK is significantly cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.25% expense ratio, saving you approximately $335 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. IAU has edged ahead over the past year (50.0% vs 46.8%).
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
XLK Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 15.30% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 13.10% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 9.49% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 5.76% |
| Micron Technology, Inc.MU | 3.96% |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.AMD | 3.22% |
| Cisco Systems, Inc.CSCO | 2.74% |
| Lam Research CorporationLRCX | 2.69% |
| Applied Materials, Inc.AMAT | 2.63% |
| Palantir Technologies Inc.PLTR | 2.49% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLK 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.