Compare iShares Gold Trust (IAU) vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
iShares Gold Trust vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.89, while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $53.17. The key difference: Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares Gold Trust nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IAU | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture | — |
52-Week High | $101.57 | $53.62 |
52-Week Low | $62.49 | $42.23 |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
XLB trades at $52.58, down 1.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillator readings. The stock recently crossed below its 200-day moving average, signaling potential trend change. A dividend of $0.19 is scheduled for June 2026. Recent news highlights materials sector strength from AI infrastructure demand and geopolitical supply chain shifts.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic given sector tailwinds from AI and infrastructure spending, though cyclical risks and valuation concerns after recent gains pose headwinds. The technical setup suggests near-term consolidation around $53 support with resistance at $54.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →About Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLB →
