Compare iShares Gold Trust (IAU) vs Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
iShares Gold Trust vs Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? iShares Gold Trust trades at $76.8, while Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $44.9. The key difference: Utilities 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 | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture | — |
52-Week High | $101.57 | $47.73 |
52-Week Low | $61.62 | $41.31 |
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 $75.35, down 0.2% on the day. Technical indicators are bearish, with moving averages signaling a downtrend and key support at $75. Recent news highlights institutional activity, including a new position by Eurizon Asset Management Hungary Ltd. in Q1 2026, while broader gold sentiment is pressured by expectations of sustained higher interest rates.
The outlook for IAU is influenced by macroeconomic factors affecting gold. Higher-for-longer interest rate expectations from the Fed (WSJ, 2026-07-19) pose a headwind, but structural central bank buying (WSJ, 2026-07-16) offers support. The primary risk is gold's sensitivity to monetary policy, while the opportunity lies in its role as a hedge amid economic uncertainty.
XLU trades at $44.93, down 0.51% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages while oscillators remain neutral. The ETF benefits from growing AI-driven electricity demand, highlighted by recent news of utility stocks gaining traction as data center power needs strain the grid. Support sits at $44, with resistance at $46.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic due to structural power demand tailwinds from AI and clean energy transitions, though regulatory risks and execution challenges pose headwinds. The ETF offers defensive exposure with dividend income, but investors should monitor utility sector capacity investments and interest rate sensitivity.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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 Utilities 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: electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities; independent power and renewable electricity producers; and gas utilities. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLU →
