Compare Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) vs iShares Gold Trust (IAU) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Align Technology, Inc. vs iShares Gold Trust — how do they compare? Align Technology, Inc. trades at $173.38 (market cap $12.29B), while iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.89. The key difference: Align Technology, Inc. is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares Gold Trust nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALGN | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.29B | — |
Sector | Health | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture |
52-Week High | $197.51 | $101.57 |
52-Week Low | $124.88 | $62.49 |
Enterprise Value | $11.30B | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALGN trades at $174.63, down 0.8% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with record revenue and clear aligner volume. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a 68.05% gross margin and 9.99% net income margin, though revenue growth has moderated. Recent news highlights a patent win in China and strategic initiatives following activist investor engagement.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is strongly bullish (73% buy ratings), but technicals and slowing revenue growth pose near-term risks. Investment opportunity lies in international expansion and digital dentistry platform growth, while risks include competitive pressures and execution of new strategic initiatives. The stock's valuation at 30x P/E requires sustained earnings growth to justify.
IAU, the iShares Gold Trust ETF, trades at $82.98 with a 0.57% daily gain amid bullish technical signals from moving averages. The ETF benefits from gold's recent momentum as spot gold reached two-month highs above $4,430/oz following cooling CPI data. While oscillators show bearish signals with RSI at overbought levels, institutional interest remains strong with Deane Retirement Strategies increasing its stake by 36.5% in the latest quarter.
Outlook remains positive as gold gains support from inflation dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and central bank buying. Key risks include potential Fed policy shifts and dollar strength. The 0.25% expense ratio makes IAU attractive for conservative investors seeking gold exposure with lower volatility compared to mining stocks.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align is the leading manufacturer of clear dental aligners globally, having pioneered the technology with the introduction of its Invisalign branded aligners in 1998. Since then, Invisalign has become a household name, having treated over 10 million patients with malocclusion (misaligned teeth) through orthodontist and dentist-guided treatment plans. The company maintains dominant market share of clear aligners, despite the introduction of direct-to-consumer competitors upon the expiration of key patents that began in 2017. Align also manufactures intraoral scanners (iTero), used for orthodontic treatment and restorative dental procedures (digital models for crowns, veneers, and implants).
Read more on ALGN →About iShares Gold Trust
IAU is a physically backed ETF that seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold. It provides a convenient and liquid way for investors to include gold in their portfolios as a potential hedge.
Read more on IAU →
