SGOL vs GLD: which was the better investment?
abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF against SPDR Gold Shares on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 9, 2009 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SGOL beat GLD?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (Sep 9, 2009 to Jul 13, 2026): $10,000 grew to $38,493 in SGOL and $37,817 in GLD, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in SGOL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL) on Sep 9, 2009 would be worth about $38,493 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 284.9% (8.3% per year). The same $10,000 in GLD would be worth $37,817.
Which was riskier — SGOL or GLD?
SGOL swung with an annualized volatility of 16.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -45.5%; GLD ran at 16.7% volatility with a -45.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.38 for SGOL vs 0.37 for GLD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 9, 2009 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with SGOL vs GLD. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.