iShares Gold Trust vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.88, while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $23.18 (market cap $17.44B). The key difference: Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays a 12.96% dividend while iShares Gold Trust pays none, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares Gold Trust nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IAU | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture | Financials |
52-Week High | $101.57 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $62.49 | $20.21 |
Market Cap | — | $17.44B |
Dividend Yield | — | 12.96% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
NLY trades at $23.23, up 1.4% with strong technical momentum as moving averages signal bullish sentiment. The stock demonstrates robust fundamentals with a low P/E of 5.59 and impressive 92.77% net income margin, supported by three consecutive quarterly earnings beats. Recent analyst upgrades and institutional buying reflect growing confidence in the mortgage REIT's housing finance strategy and dividend sustainability.
Outlook remains positive with consensus price target of $24.50 offering 5.5% upside potential. Key opportunities include the 13%+ dividend yield and diversified housing finance platform, while risks center on interest rate volatility and the company's high leverage ratio of 23.55. Earnings growth momentum and institutional support provide catalysts for continued appreciation.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
Read more on NLY →