iShares Gold Trust vs United Parcel Service Inc — how do they compare? iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.88, while United Parcel Service Inc trades at $104.02 (market cap $88.85B). The key difference: United Parcel Service Inc pays a 6.28% dividend while iShares Gold Trust pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IAU | UPS | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture | Industrials |
52-Week High | $101.57 | $120.00 |
52-Week Low | $62.49 | $82.58 |
Market Cap | — | $88.85B |
Volume | — | 2,288,643 |
Enterprise Value | — | $112.87B |
Dividend Yield | — | 6.28% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) trades at $82.76, up 0.3% on the day, with technical indicators showing mixed signals - a bullish moving average trend but overbought RSI levels. The ETF benefits from gold's recent momentum as inflation data aligns with expectations and geopolitical tensions boost safe-haven demand. Recent news highlights gold's strong performance with spot prices reaching $4,438/oz following July CPI data.
The outlook remains positive given gold's defensive characteristics amid economic uncertainty, though overbought technical conditions suggest potential near-term consolidation. Key risks include Federal Reserve policy shifts and dollar strength, while institutional buying and central bank demand provide underlying support.
UPS stock trades at $103.72, down 0.95% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. Recent quarterly earnings have consistently beaten estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.76 versus $1.65 expected. Revenue for 2025 was $88.66 billion, though net income margin has trended down to 5.08% in 2026. The company maintains a solid dividend of $1.64 per share and is focusing on automation and healthcare logistics to drive growth.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is a Buy with a $117.90 price target, but technicals suggest near-term pressure. Key opportunities include strategic shifts away from low-margin business and digital tool enhancements for SMBs. Risks involve cost pressures, competitive threats, and dividend sustainability concerns as it consumed nearly all free cash flow in 2025.
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 →United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) delivers packages and documents throughout the United States and in other countries and territories. The Company also provides global supply chain services and less-than-truckload transportation, primarily in the US UPS's business consists of integrated air and ground pick-up and delivery network
Read more on UPS →