GLD vs GDX Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Compare GLD and GDX by gold price tracking vs mining equity operating leverage, storage cost vs management fee, miners' sensitivity to gold margin compression, and whether owning physical gold or gold equities offers better risk-adjusted returns.
Use this GLD vs GDX comparison to evaluate the key differences across valuation, growth, profitability, and risk before making an investment decision.
GLD holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. GDX has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+42.09% vs +19.86% for GLD).
| Metric | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|
| ETF score | 64.0 | 54.0 |
| Latest close | $371.90 | $75.23 |
| 1M return | +1.63% | +0.86% |
| 6M return | -17.68% | -28.47% |
| 1Y return | +19.86% | +42.09% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.99K (+19.9%) started 2025-07-24 | $14.31K (+43.1%) started 2025-07-24 |
| 5Y ago | $22.12K (+121.2%) started 2021-07-26 | $25.84K (+158.4%) started 2021-07-26 |
| 10Y ago | $29.64K (+196.4%) started 2016-07-25 | $33.11K (+231.1%) started 2016-07-25 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.51% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $130.05B | $22.75B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.84% |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.18 | 0.68 |
| 52-week change | 19.86% | 42.09% |
| Metric | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y return | +19.86% | +42.09% |
| 6M return | -17.68% | -28.47% |
| 1M return | +1.63% | +0.86% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.88 |
| Beta | 0.18 | 0.68 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.84% |
| 5Y CAGR | +17.23% | +19.23% |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +19.86% | +42.09% |
| CAGR | +19.88% | +42.12% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.88 | |
| Max drawdown | 26.40% | 38.93% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 12.76% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 16.52% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +121.16% | +140.68% |
| CAGR | +17.23% | +19.23% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.71 | 0.54 | |
| Max drawdown | 26.40% | 46.51% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 12.76% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 16.52% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +196.41% | +199.16% |
| CAGR | +11.48% | +11.59% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.48 | 0.36 | |
| Max drawdown | 26.40% | 49.79% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.27% | 22.82% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.25% | 35.40% |
| Category | GLD | GDX |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | SPDR Gold Shares | VanEck Gold Miners ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.51% |
| Total assets (AUM) | $130.05B | $22.75B |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.84% |
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