iShares Gold Trust vs Manulife Financial Corporation — how do they compare? iShares Gold Trust trades at $77.48, while Manulife Financial Corporation trades at $42.51 (market cap $69.96B). The key difference: Manulife Financial Corporation pays a 3.14% dividend while iShares Gold Trust pays none, and Manulife Financial Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares Gold Trust nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IAU | MFC | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture | Financials |
52-Week High | $101.57 | $43.39 |
52-Week Low | $61.62 | $29.90 |
Market Cap | — | $69.96B |
Enterprise Value | — | $66.52B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.14% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IAU, the iShares Gold Trust ETF, trades at $75.35, down 0.2% with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF tracks physical gold prices, which have shown volatility amid Middle East tensions and shifting Fed rate expectations. Recent institutional activity includes Eurizon Asset Management acquiring 482,015 shares in Q1 2026 while AlTi Global reduced its position by 1.3%.
Gold's outlook balances strong central bank demand against interest rate pressures. The risk/reward appears favorable with limited downside, though Fed policy remains the primary driver. Physical gold demand from Asian markets provides support, but higher rates could continue to cap near-term gains.
MFC trades at $42.83, down 1.29% today, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported revenue of $53.01B in 2025 and net income of $5.78B, with a P/E of 17.39. Recent news highlights AI advancements and strong Asia performance, while Q1 2026 earnings missed expectations. Analyst consensus is 57% buy with no sell ratings.
Outlook remains positive driven by AI initiatives and Asia growth, but risks include Q1 earnings miss and regulatory scrutiny. The stock offers steady profitability and dividend income, yet faces headwinds from wealth management outflows and competitive pressures in core markets.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Manulife provides life insurance and wealth management products and services to individuals and group customers in Canada, the United States, and Asia. Manulife is one of Canada's Big Three Life Insurance companies (the other two are Sun Life and Great West Life). As of Dec. 31, 2021, Manulife reported assets under management or administration of about CAD $1.4 trillion.
Read more on MFC →